Rotor Torque

Police spokesman Eugene Opperman said the pre Christmas aerial attack on the runaway crime wave was expensive though the results proved phenomenal, dramatically again proving the value of helos in the community. He added that 44% of the crimes had been spotted from the air by police pilots and crewmen who alerted flying squad vehicles on the ground. In 99% of these incidents fleeing criminals had been cornered and arrested.

The campaign was secretly launched only days after police helicopters landed sharpshooters on the roof of a city centre bank while it was being robbed by a gang armed with Russian made AK-47 assault rifles. Five of the six bandits were shot dead and two policemen wounded.

Since then the clatter of helicopters has become routine among the high rise office buildings of South Africa’s Golden City though they are regularly used in the surrounding bush in the hunt for big game poachers, ivory hunters, cattle rustlers and cannabis plantations. Opperman said that during the anti crime campaign the helicopters chased getaway cars fleeing holdups and tracked hijacked trucks until road blocks could be set up.

Vehicle theft is now so rife in South Africa that many commercial and even some private motorists paint their licence numbers in large letters and figures on the roofs of their vans, trucks and cars. This makes them easy to spot on highways and when hidden behind high walls.

The aeri. al police purge in Johannesburg was so successful that Opperman said the helicopters would be moved in turn to other major cities, such as Cape Town and Durban, for other mass attacks on crime. (Bill Cain)

R22 Challenger?

Bruno Guimbal, an engineer with Aerospatiale’s helicopter division has designed a new light helicopter which could well present a challenge to Robinson’s R22.

Powered by a 160hp Lycoming 0-320, the same motor as fitted to the R22, the Gabri G2 has an all composite fuselage, three blade main rotor and Fenestron tail rotor. A 110kt maximum speed is predicted with 100kt cruise for a range of 540nm. The Gabri appears to be aimed at the R22 market and will be assisted into production by Aerospatiale.

Bristow Helicopters Changes Hands

Bristow Helicopters, a UK based international aviation group which operates some 200 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft has been sold to a consortium headed by a Bristow management team. Previously owned by a Scandinavian company, Bristow operates in support of the North Sea oil and gas fields, it’s main operating base being in Aberdeen, Scotland. Bristow is also involved in search and rescue, and rotary wing training.

Chinook Update

In the latest move in the long running saga of the Chinook update (refer p78 Sep 91 AA), it is understood that a team has recently visited the US to try and resolve the question of whether it is to be five D models with a limited support package, or four aircraft with a comprehensive package.

By contrast,realising the worth of its Chinooks, the Greek government has recently signed a contract with Textron Lycoming to upgrade the T55-L11 engines in its 24 aircraft fleet to the improved T55-l. -712 configuration. Boeing Helicopters is presently upgrading the CH-47 airframes to the latest CH-47D standard.

Improved Particle Separators

Aviation Turbine Overhaul (ATO), the Moorabbin-based subsidiary of lavrow Helicopters, has developed an improved particle separator aimed at reducing dust damage to Allison turbine engines.

The new separator has been successful in reducing particle damage to the seven Bell 206B helicopters operated by Jayrow. Evidently, the results have been impressive with in excess of 10,000 hours being flown in high dust conditions.

Following FA A approval, the new separator will be made available world wide.

Victorian Fire Fighting Contracts Awarded

The Victorian government has recently signed contracts for the provision of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft for the current fire season.

A contract has been issued to Jayrow Helicopters of Moorabbin for four light helicopters to undertake fire spotting and command and liaison work. Lloyd Helicopters Adelaide has won the contract to provide three medium helicopters for fire bombing and utility work which includes hauling fuel, placing fire crews in otherwise inaccessible forrest areas and crew changeovers.

Both contracts will run from 14 weeks from time of call out

Robinson R22 Sprayer Receives Fa a Certification.

Apollo Helicopter Services of California has received FAA approval to manufacture the Apollo DTM-3 agricultural spray system. The spray system, which was expressly designed for the R22, has undergone some ten years field research in the United States and several other countries around the world.

The 31kg spray unit carries 151Its in a low drag belly mounted poly tank suspended in an aluminium frame. The “take down” boom spans 7. 32mtrs and can be easily installed or removed with quick disconnect pins and a cam lock fluid fitting. The tank frame attaches to the landing gear mount points with four bolts and wing nuts. Installation or removal of the entire spray system requires no tools and can be completed by one person in about five minutes. At the R22’s normal spray speed of 70 – 75kts, the average production rate is 150 acres per hour at 9. 5 to 11. 5Its per acre. The entire DTM-3 spray system is priced at $US6,000 including installation kit and operations manual.

Robinson has topped general aviation deliveries for 1991 with more units being manufactured than by any other US manufacturer of helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. Coincidentally, the 2000th R22 was purchased by Heliflite Pty Ltd who will use S/N 2000 for cattle mustering demonstration work up north.

Finally, in a significant move, Robinson has won a military contract to supply ten R22’s for use in pilot training by the Turkish Armed Forces.

V-22 Debate Continues

As reported p53 Nov 91 AA, controversy still surrounds the future of the Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft being developed for the US Marine Corps.

In an attempt to keep the project alive, Boeing Helicopters has issued a press release quote “Further defence programme reductions appear likely over the next few years. We are hopeful that Congress and the President will continue to support rotorcraft development and production and recognise the unique contributions helicopters and tilt rotor aircraft make to military force mobility and flexibility”. However sources report that the US Department of Defense is unlikely to fund the project in FY93, despite the allocation of $US990m by Congress in FY92, because of continuing development problems.

Perhaps a factor that should be borne in mind is that there are some 35 former US Marines in Congress who will not let the project die without a fight. Once a Marine, always a Marine!

Mbb Helicopters Pacific (Mhp) Officially Ceases Operations

Following the formation in March 1991 of the Eurocopter organisation which combined the respective helicopter divisions of Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm (MBB) and Aerospatiale, MHP was transferred to the Aerospatiale Helicopters Australia (AHA) premises at Bankstown, but continued to be separately funded.

In a final move, MBB has now ceased funding the Australian operation and as a consequence, MHP officially ceased operations as of Dec 31, 91. AHA, as a subsidiary company of Eurocopter France, will now be the distributor for all Eurocopter products and thus will still represent MBB in Australia.

Airline Transport Pilots Licence (Helicopter) Replaces Cpl(H)

In a recent change, the CAA has introduced the Airline Transport Pilots Licence (Helicopter) to replace the old SCPL(H) and CPL{H) licences.

The requirement for the change was brought about by a lack of recognition of the uniquely Australian licensing system. The ATPL{H) will be issued as either 1st or 2nd class, the former requiring a SCPL{H) and 1,500 hours; there is no flight test. A 2nd class ATPL{H) may be obtained by the holder of a CPL{H) or higher licence on application. The previous two essay examinations for the SCPL(H) have now been combined into a single, multi choice examination known as the Helicopter Senior commercial Examination (HAEX). Recognising problems inherent in the new system, Chopperline of Caloundra, Old, set up an intensive three week ground school course in early 1991 which has proved to be most successful. A further five full time courses will be run in 1992.

Troop CA Rrying Gunship Development for Uh-1

In yet another rework of the UH-1, a California based company, American Aircraft, has drastically reworked the UH-1 airframe to produce the “Penetrator”, a heavily armed gunship capable of carrying up to ten troops.

The crew consists of a pilot up front with a forward facing weapons operator behind him, plus a further two weapons operators located aft of the main cabin. Forward armament consists of two machine guns, a 20mm cannon, two 37mm rocket pods and launch tubes for eight missiles. The rear crew members each have 12. 7mm machine guns operating over a wide rearward arc. Stub wings and an elevator have been fitted to unload the main rotor in fast forward flight.

The prototype, which has flown, is 700kg over its design weight of 2,300kg. The assumed market are the many military Heuy operators around the world.

Helitech ‘91 Reflects the Changing Times

The most recent Helitech was seen as a very good show by both exhibitors and the 8,000 plus visitors from around the world. However, world recession and defence spending cuts continue to show their effects, it being noticeable how many companies had been looking at new projects in order to sustain business.

Probably the most interesting developments continue to be from what were once known as the Warsaw Pact countries. Poland’s manufacturer Pezetel had their W-3 Sokol (Falcon) transport helicopter at Redhill. With a 6,400kg gross weight, the Sokol could fill the large gap between the Bell 212/412 series and the Super Puma. FAA certification of the Sokol is progressing, and may be completed as early as May 1992.

Russian helicopters also featured, with the Mil Mi-171 and Kamov Ka32 visiting the show. The Mi-171 is a development of the Mi-8/Mi-17, now capable of lifting 4,000kg externally. Work is now directed on the Mi-8 TG variant, which will run on either LPG or an avtur/LPG mixture for service entry around 1995.

Other Russian projects detailed at the show were the five seat Mi-34VAZ for 1995/6, with twin VAZ-430 235hp engines and 1,800kg gross weight. Flight testing the single engined version continues slowly on this project. At the other end of the scale from the Mil bureau is the Mi-38 of very similar dimensions to the EH-101, with expected deliveries in1996/7 to replace the Mi-8. At 14,750kg gross weight and two TV 7-117V engines of 2,300hp each, it is hoped for a cruise speed of 275kmh, external load of 5,000kg and 800km range with 30 minutes reserve.

Western manufacturers must now be looking seriously at whether the many products and future projects currently offered by Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia etc pose a threat to their own product lines. While a number of observers criticise the “eastern” models as being over engineered, there is no doubt that a large amount of effort is being put in by those countries.

Piston helicopters were only represented by the Schweizer S. 300C and the Robinson R22B. These two aircraft were displayed at the show on adjoining stands which made for friendly rivalry between the salesmen! UK Robinson dealers Sloane Helicopters, who reputedly sell more helicopters than any other company in the world, say that they expect first deliveries of the new four seat R44 in 1992 and give preliminary performance details as 210kmh cruise speed, 640km range, gross weight of around 1,100kg and useful load of over 450kg.

In the single turbine market, McDonnell Douglas were not represented despite the recent certification of their Notar 520N model. Bell were present, but without any aircraft to fly, and continued to bank on the waiting lists for their 206 series, with JetRanger orders now being taken for first quarter 1993 and LongRangers for third quarter 1992. They are also working on a model 206L. 4 with improved hot-and-high performance, but this is not expected to be available before 1993. Eurocopter’s AS350 continues to sell well with around half of the production going to Japan, and more effort being put into military marketing – the US military training program being the main target at present. The only AS350s on display were three being offered by US sales company Austin Jet.

Multi engined turbines continue to be the main lines for development in civilian markets, with Bell’s 230 and Eurocopter’s Bo108 currently at the flight test stage. UK Eurocopter distributor McAlpine Helicopters had an AS355F2 on their stand, the first such aircraft in the world fitted with a two tube EFIS system. Rivals, European Helicopters have already been responsible for the world’s first EFIS fitment in each of the AS350, AS355 and AS365N models.

On the German side of Eurocopter, both the Bo105S and BK117B. 1 were shown. The general reaction at present is that it does not offer enough visibility for the pilot, and orders from EMS users are more likely than the police. The 117 is already in EMS use in the USA, Germany, Italy, Norway and Spain.

Westland had their passenger EH. 101 Heliliner available for demonstration flights, and are very hopeful of military orders from Canada and Italy to follow on from the recent announcement that they have been appointed prime contractor for the UK Royal Navy order for 44 Merlin aircraft. The UK Royal Air Force and Army are also evaluating the type, although the former is known to prefer the S-70C Black Hawk. Westland will have a lull in production in 1992/3 until the 101 gets fully underway, as very few orders for the Sea King, Lynx or licence-built Black Hawk have been forthcoming. Civil EH101 orders are not expected to be significant at this stage, despite models at the show in the colours of both Bristow Helicopters and British International.

The current trend for re-engining existing airframes was highlighted by Rocky Mountain Helicopters appointing European Helicopters of Denham, UK as their distributor in Europe for the Allstar. By replacing the Arriel engine from an AS350B or the Lycoming LTS-101 from the AS350D with an Allison 250-C30M, Rocky Mountain say that the main benefit is greatly reduced operating costs and higher performance through reduced weights. They hope to complete 18 kits by the end of 1991, 50 to 75 in 1992, and see a worldwide market of around 500 conversions, which are priced at $US295,000 before allowance for the replaced engine. (Jeremy Parkin)