Rotor Torque

The site at Pier 8 has been selected because it allows all helicopters to avoid nearby residences and to minimise noise impact through approach and departure flight paths over water.

According to acoustical tests detailed in the EIS, the maximum number of flights allowed (either takeoff or landing) would be about 50 on any day, based on the commonly used Bell 206Jetranger. When other helicopter types are included in the daily mix, the maximum number of flights will be considerably reduced.

The Helicopter Association of Australia, NSW Branch m.

publicising the proposed heliport, has pointed out that the helicopter industry is constantly working on new technology

and flight techniques to lower noise levels on helicopter flight

paths. As a part of this process, the HAAis currently preparing a “Fly Neighbourly Guide” for operations over urban areas and sensitive environments and will ensure that operations to and from the new heliport are conducted in a professional manner.

Robinson R44 Helicopter Acfileves Certification

Robinson’s new four seat R44 helicopter received its FAA certification on December 10 1992 at the company’s new flight test centre in California

The R44, pricedat$US235,000, has been designed to develop a new market between the small piston helicopters and the light turbines.

Deliveries have commenced with the first of the new aircraft .

being delivered to customers in the Western United States, allowing Robinson to monitor in field performance of early production aircraft. A total of eight R44s orders have been received from Australia with deliveries expected later this year.

Robinson, which is the success story of the eighties and nineties, is planning to double its work force to 800 when the new model is in full production.

Power Lines Claim Well-Known Aviation Identity

Tony Masting and his two daughters, Tiah and Sasha were killed late last year when the helicopter he was piloting struck power lines shortly after takeoff from a property near Lake Burrinjuck.

Tony Masting, aged 43, was joint company director of Masling Rotor Wing which is based at Cootamundra, as well as Masting Industries which overhauls aircraft components. His father, who was a well-known identity in the aviation industry,founded Masting Airlines which once operated as a regional airline in southern NSW. Tony Masling’s contribution to the aviation industry in general and through his participation on the Board of the Australian Aviation Advisory Committee to the CAA will be sadly missed.

It is particularly tragic that a power line should claim Tony Masting in view of his pioneering work in this country on helicopter power line maintenance and repair (refer p53 Nov 91 AA). The accident highlights the concentration of power lines in the Yass district which all focus in to a major station to the immediate south of the town.

Ongoing Saga of the Bell Uh-1 Upgrades

As previously reported in this column (April and March 92), calls for an upgrade of the venerable Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter continue to flow from military operators.

The latest in the ongoing round is the US National Guard which is seeking funds from Congress to upgrade 200 Iroquois each year for five years; to achieve an increase of inservice life of a further 20 years.

Three contenders for an engine upgrade have prototypes flying, these are Bell with an improved version of the Lycoming T53, UNC Helicopter using the GE T700, and Global Helicopter with the LHTEC T800.

The Bell and UNC proposals offer a gross weight increase to 4800kgs whilst the LHTEC proposal would see max gross remain at the present 4300kgs.

All three proposals include upgraded avionic packages with the Bell factory renovation costing around $USlm, and the UNC option between $ USlm and $ US1. 5m, how ever no figures are available for the Global proposal.

At the same time, the National Guard is looking at off-the-shelf options to replace the UH-1 with Vought Aircraft’s Panther 800, a T800 powered version of Aerospatiale’s AS 565 Panther Helicopter, the front runner.

Dutch Helicopter Purchases

The Royal Netherlands Anny’s newly created Airborne Brigade is to be provided with mobility through the purchase of 12 CH-47D helicopters from Boeing or Agusta plus 17 smaller machines.

Under consideration for the latter purchase are the Sikorsky S-701 Black Hawk and the Eurocopter AS 532U2 Cougar.

The Chinook purchase could include seven refurbished to zero time Canadian CH-147s with the work being done either by Boeing or Agusta EH Industries which was unsuccessful in its bid with the EHlOl, and NATO Helicopter Industries will be permitted to bid for the lighter machines.

The specification for a further order for 40 armed escort helicopters is expected to be announced later this year.

Combat Helo Reduced

In further moves associated with defence budget cuts, the German Ministry of Defence is expected to announce that in view of European developments, a purely anti tank PAH-2 Tiger is no longer appropriate and that a more multi role capability is now required.

The original specification was prepared to meet the massive tank threat of the old Soviet Union using the Trigat anti tank missile. It is understood that Trigat, which was expected to be given the go ahead this year, may not survive the latest cuts.

The reduced buy of 137 aircraft as reported in June 92 Rotor Torque is expected to be maintained, as is the French order for 140 Tigers. The latter includes 75 escort versions known as the Gerfaut which could possibly meet the new German requirement, using HOT 2 or HOT 3 missiles to provide a lower cost anti tank capability.

Turkey Orders 95 Sikorsky Black Hawks

In a contract worth US$1. lbn, Turkey is to acquire 95 Sikorsky S-70. A/28 Black Hawk utility helicopters.

The first 45 aircraft will be supplied directly by Sikorsky with deliveries already started, and all are expected to be delivered within nine months. An interesting aspect of this significant contract for Sikorskyis that it is being totally financed through loans; 85%through the US Export/Import (Exim) Bank and the remainder from commercial banks.

The remaining 50 Black Hawks will be built in Turkey in conjunction with Sikorsky and will be delivered over a four year period, with production commencing towards the end of next year at the Tusas plant near Ankara Local content will increase to 50% during the production nin.

Turkey will finance 18% of the local production with the remainder once again being met by loans from commercial banks. Special US legislation had to be passed to obtain Exim financing which enabled the two US firms which bid for the contract, Sikorsky and Bell to match Eurocopter’s financing of its offer of the Super Puma and BK117.

Rotorway Exec 90 Progress Report

Following the debut of the Rotorway Helicopters Australia Pty Ltd kit built Exec 90 at the Avalon Airshow, interest in the new (to Australia) helicopter has evidently been phenomenal.

Six kits have been sold to date with deliveries already taking place. The current price is now $US48,000 FOB Los Angeles, plus freight and insurance. A US5000 deposit is required upon confirmation of the order and delivery to the docks can be expected between 30 and 90 days although this is currently running at three weeks. Negotiations are presently underway into the possibility of flying the kits from the USA which could be cheaper, and obviously quicker, than the present sea freight.

The final step in the path to certification at the time of going to press was testing of the main rotor shaft strength by the CAA, and actual certification was expected to follow three to four weeks later.

German Budgetary Constraints Affect NH. 90PROCUREMENT Programme

The German Navy’s procurement of the NH. 90 ASW helicopter will not now go ahead as a result of budgetary constraints imposed on the defence programme, announced by the German Defence Minister, Volker Ruhe late last year.

It had been hoped that an ASW variant of the new helicopter would be introduced into service before the turn of the century, replacing the Westland Sea Lynx, however the latest development in the ongoing saga of the NH. 90 will require the Lynx to remain in service,with the purchase of an additional 12 Lynx, and an upgrade to the remaining 19 aircraft.

First flight of the NH. 90 has slipped two years to possibly the end of 1995, with deliveries now scheduled to begin in the year 2000. The German Navy order of 38 of the new helicopters will stand, but the aircraft will now be used in the transport role.

Five prototypes of the tactical/naval helicopter are now planned, with the fourth to be fitted as the tactical variant and fifth as the naval ASW variant. The French and Dutch intend continuing with development of the ASW variant which will have a mission capability well in advance of the Lynx. A revised share of the four nation (Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands) building programme now sees Eurocopter France with 42%, Agusta 27%, Fokker 7% and Eurocopter Germany 24%. Production is expected to begin in 1997.

UK Certification for as 332l2 Super Puma

The AS 332 12 Super Puma, built by the Franco German Group Eurocopter, has received its UK CAA certification following 50 hours of specific testing to satisfy requirements to meet the demanding conditions involved in North Sea oil rig work.

The 12 Super Puma is capable of transporting 24 passengers plus a steward over a distance of 220nm (408km) or 19 passengers over a distance of 360nm (667km). New high comfort seats have been fitted with a normal seating configuration, complemented by a baggage capacity of 3. 1 cubic metres which is the largest in this category of helicopter.

Other improvements include Spheriflex-type main and tail rotors, integrated digital avionics with EFIS displays, and new engines; two Turbomeca Makila 1A2 turboshaft engines rated at 2133hp each.

Twenty of the new helicopters have been orderedbyBristow Helicopter Ltd for its North Sea operations.

McDonnell Douglas MD Explorer Makes Maiden Flight

The revolutionary McDonnell Douglas MD Explorer made its maiden flight in December last year thus concluding a four year development programme which was unique in its concept.

As originally reported in this column in May 1989, McDonnell Douglas, as a first step in developing the new design, invited selected helicopter owners and operators world wide to help define the requirements for an eight place, twin engine, single pilot helicopter. The Blue Team, as the owners and operators group was designated, participated in every phase of the design and McDonnell Douglas acknowledges that the team played a major part in developing what it believes to be the ideal helicopter. Among design features important to the Blue Team were the 50 inch (1. 27m) sliding side loading doors and a collective mounted manual override for the automatic fuel control system.

Of course the most significant feature of the new helicopter is the McDonnell Douglas exclusive NOTAR system for anti torque and directional control, which eliminates the conventional exposed tail rotor. This system has already been introduced into service in the smaller single engine, five place NOTAR equippedMD 520 helicopter of which 34 have already been delivered.

Other technological advances incorporated in the MD Explorer include a composite outer surface for the fuselage for significant weight reduction, an all composite bearingless main rotor which is lubrication free, and main rotor blades which will be replaceable “on condition” rather than being hour limited.

Of particular interest to Australia is the participation of Hawker de Havilland as a 20% programme participant in the project as reported in this column last September. McDonnell Douglas already has more then 250 non-refundable deposits for the new helicopter which will help to provide a much needed boost to the Australian Aerospace industry.

Flight testing leading to FAA certification is expected to be completed by October next year, with deliveries scheduled to begin immediately after the certification process is complete.