Rotor Torque

Tridair has contracted with Bell for 50 newly produced LongRangers for delivery between January 1990 and the end of 1993 which are being marketed in the USA with the plan to have them converted to twin engined configuration when the modification is certified by the FAA. Price of a t win converted newly produced LongRanger will be about $US1. 4 million which compares to the current US list price of a LongRanger of $US910,000.

A conversion kit is also being planned which will market for about $US600,000. Tridair is soon to have discussions with Australian engineering shops to arrange Australian CAA approval for the conversion and certification of the STC. Performance figures are still being calculated but Tridair expect the Gemini ST will have a maximum cruise speed of 117kts, a max rate of climb of 1,348fpm, hover in ground effect at 16,000 feet, hover out of ground effect at 7,500 feet. Gross weight will be 2,020kg (4,450Ibs) and empty weight 1,175kg (2,59Dlbs). Useful load 844kg (1,86Dlbs) and payload with full fuel will be 454kg (1,000lbs). A maximum external load will be 908kg (2,000lbs). The service ceiling will be 20,000 feet. Bell’s earlier plan for a Twin engined equivalent of the JetRanger and LongRanger, designated the TwinRanger, was to be built at its Canadian plant but the company droppedthe project when it felt market demand did not warrant the development costs and because the MDX, Twin Squirrel and the BK117 were also to share the market. Tridair sold four of the conversions at last February’s HAI sponsoredHali-Expo 90 held at the Dallas Convention Centre in Texas.

Enstrom en Ter Civil Light Turbine Chopper

MARKE T Enstrom, best known in Australia for its light piston engined helicopters distributed by Sydney based Heliflite Pty Ltd, is developing a light turbine powered single designated the 480 to be powered by an Allison 250-C20W derated from 420shp to a maximum continuous power rating of 250shp. The development enables the company to capitalise on expenditure it has incurred in developing a contender for the US Army’s new helicopter training competition with the TH-28, a three seat basic and IFR trainer. Much of the development work on the 480 and TH-28 is based on the experience gathered by the test flying of an Allison powered model 280 over the last two years.

Deliveries of the new four place helicopter are scheduled to start early next year. The manufacturer is aiming at a basicprice, without avionics, of $US385,000. Enstrom say the helicopter, with its 436 litres (96gal) of internal fuel, will have an endurance of close to four hours, claimed to be more than any other light turbine helicopter currently available. RUSSIANS BUY ALLISON 250s Kamov, the Russian helicopter design and manufacturing bureau, has selected the Allison 250 to power its Ka-226 t win engined helicopter to be used for utility and agricultural purposes. Prototype testing of the engine in the helicopter is due to start later this year. Up to 600 engines could be involved in the first order. The Russians at the Singapore air show say they will be seeking international certification of the Ka-226 which has a gross weight of about 3,400kg (7,50Dlb).

Corporate Bell 412SP Announced

Bell Helicopters has presented a corporate. Bell 412SP to the US market with the prototype being shown at this year at Dallas. Fitted with a tri-geared undercarriage with streamlined wheel spats, the helicopter, which was configured at the HAI show to carry five passengers, will be sold for $US3. 8 million once the modifications have been approved by the FAA.

Modifications for the corporate role on the helicopter, which is normally built as a 15 seat utility helicopter, include inflatable door seals, luggage holds built where the utillty version has its side facing seats, gold fittings in the cabin and air stair doors. Cabin air conditioning was developed by Stena which also carried out the luxurious interior design ano completion. The trigear spatted undercarriage will also be available in kit form for about $US150,000. Bendix/King Gold Crown 111 avionics were fitted on the HAI demonstrator together’ with a three axis coupled Sperry 7000 automatic flight control system with an ‘auto level’ feature that levels the helicopter automatically at 50 feet following an instrument approach. Also shown at this year’s HAI were long range tanks for Bell 205, 212 and 412 helicopters developed by Era Aviation Services. The kevlar tanks attach to hard points on the sides of the helicopters. They provide an additional 586 libres (155gal) of fuel.

The tanks reduce the helicopter’s cruise speed by about three knots and rate of climb by 30 feet per minute. The tanks are said to actually improve the stability of the helicopter with enhanced stability in pitch and lateral modes.

Cost of the tanks, which were originally developed for offshore contracts held by Era, is $US129,600.

New French, Singapore, and Chinese Helicopter Launched

The Asian Aerospace 90 Show held last February at Singapore’s Changi Airport was the site for the launch of the P120L, a joint Aerospatiale of France, Singapore Aerospace and CATIC of China turbine helicopter planned to replace the Gazelle and Lama helicopters in service around the world.

The five seat with pilot helicopter will undergo final assembly at Aerospatiale’s factory in France and will have components built in Singapore and China included in its structure. Aerospatiale has a 54% interest in the project with China taking 30% and Singapore 16%.

Singapore will design and build the upper fuselage, tailboom and fins with China taking on the cabin. Aerospatiale will and build the rotor and transmission system and undertake final assembly.

Depending on sales, the helicopter’s final construction could also be undertaken at the various plants of the partners. A world market of between 4,000 and 5,000 helicopters in the class is envisaged with the multinational partnership expecting to place up to 2,000 Pl20Ls over a period of ten years.

First flight is scheduled for 1993 with deliveries commence in 1996. At apress conference called in Singapore to announce the project, the partners said China will by utilising advanced equipment and methodology acquired for its Aerospatiale Dauphin helicopter licence production in the program.

Australia’s ASTA was once involved in the project but subsequently dropped out following concern with its current aim to maximise revenue in order to impress possible future investors over the time before there would be a return on the capital investment required. Aerospatiale officials also say the government owned aerospace company did want to commit the funding required for the project which is understood to be likely to reach one billion French francs overall.

The P120 was originally conceived as a replacement for the Aerospatiale Squirrel, but following the launch of the MDX by McDonnell Douglas Helicopters the French decided a different market area should be chosen to reduce competition between the two types. The helicopter will come in two versions, with one having an uprated engine for hot and high work. Engine selection is yet to be made but observers expect the Turbomeca Arriel with a power rating of 750hp to be selected for the lighter machine which will have a gross weight of 2,000kgs. An uprated version for hot and high work with an engine of about 880hp will have a gross weight of 2,300kgs.

The less powerful version will have a maximum speed of 147 knots and be able to hover-out-of-=ground-effect (OGE) at 11,513 ‘feet at ISA and at ISA ¢20 at 9,375 feet. Range with 600 litres of fuel at sea level will be 443nm.

The uprated P120L will have a high speed cruise of 151 knots (at 2,300kgs AUW. At 2,000kgs it will have a high speed cruise of 157 knots. At ISA it will hover out of ground effect at 100,690 feet at 2,300kgs. At 2,000kgs it will hover OGE at 14,800 feet. At ISA +20 the heights are 8,390 and 13,820 respectively. Range of the uprated version with 600 litres of fuel is planned at 405nm.

MDX Sales Surge

The fastest selling commercial helicopter of 1989 – and perhaps of all time – is the McDonnell Douglas eight place, twin turbine MDX, according to McDonnell Douglas officials.

Deposits have been received for 271 MDX helicopters since the new design was introduced in January 1989, according to Clark Wirthlin, Marketing Manager for the aircraft. To meet customer delivery demands, the Company is considering speeding up production rates to accommodate the market. “Our customers are telling us to get it here faster,” Wirthlin said. First MDX deliveries are scheduled for December 1993. MDX helicopters ordered now will not be delivered till 1997.

Final assembly of the first production aircraft will begin in August 1991 at the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co facility in Mesa, Arizona. The first ship will be completed by January 1992 and begin ground tests immediately. Production aircraft number two will be the first MDX to fly, an event now scheduled for July 1992. The FA A certification process will begin immediately after the first flight and last for about 15 months