Rotor Torque

Gemini St Granted Single Engine Certification

The Faa has awarded Tridair certification for its Gemini St twin-engine conversion of the Bell 206L LongRanger to operate one or both engines in all phases of flight, making it the world’s first Single/Twin aircraft. The Faa approval of the Gemini St marks, according to Tridair President Doug Daigle, “the latest approach to safer and more economical operations. It is the first time ever that any aircraft, fixed wing or helicopter, has been authorised to be operated as either a twin or single engined aircraft at any time during its flight.”

The certification allows Gemini St TwinRangers to operate as a single for maximum economy; the conversion extends range out to 400nm with the safety and performance of a twin-engined aircraft. The Gemini St is a twin-engine conversion of the 206L LongRanger series and features the installation of two Allison 250-C20R turboshafts derated to 275kW (870shp) in place of the original 335kW (450shp) 250-C20P. Tridair offers the Gemini St as a conversion of existing 206L-1s, 206L-3s and 206L-4s, while Bell builds new build aircraft as LongRangers. A Supplemental Type Certificate for the Gemini St was awarded in November 1993.

Hawker De Havilland Awarded Ar Maintenance

The Air Force has awarded Hawker de Havilland maintenance support contracts covering deeper maintenance of the Army’s Arriel and T53 engines that power the Squirrel and Iroquois respectively. The contracts, which were signed in late August, will see Hdh Repair and Overhaul Division perform work estimated at $8.4m on the Squirrel’s Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft and transmission, and $8.1m work on the Iroquois Lycoming T53 between last September and August 1999, with the option of an extension through to August 2001.

Hawker de Havilland previously performed the work, but had to bid against other companies in an open competition to retain the work. With this new contract, however, Hdh will take complete control of the maintenance process. The company will use up existing Raaf spares held for the two types, and then source spares itself.

Euro Mil To Develop Mi-38

For the development and marketing of the planned Mi-38 helicopter, Mil, the Kazan Helicopter Production Plant and engine designer Klimov signed an agreement on September 29 to form EuroMil, a company which will floor up to 30 passengers in an airline configuration. The new Mi-38 will be in the 14-tonne class, with advanced avionics and twin Klimov turboshaft engines. Each of the four companies holds a 25% stake in EuroMil.

Mil is responsible for the overall design of the helo, Eurocopter will develop the cockpit, avionics and cabin, Klimov is responsible for the development and production of the engines, and the Kazan Helicopter Production Plant will be in charge of production, engineering and manufacture. In addition, Eurocopter will handle export sales and customer support, while Kazan will take care of logistics support. Delivery is planned for 1999.

Israel To Increase Ch-53 Takeoff Weight

Israel intends to bump up the max takeoff weight of its Ch-53s to 22,709kg (50,050lb) for special missions operations as part of its Ch-53 2000 upgrade programme. Thirty Ch-53s are being modified by Mata under a life extension and upgrade programme. Changes include structural improvements to boost airframe life by two decades, new Elbit avionics, night vision goggle comparability and a Hud for nap of the earth flying at night, multi-function displays, moving map and a mission computer.

Mata will devise and integrate the increase in max takeoff weight to the Ch-53 2000 modification line, and retrospectively upgrade already modified aircraft. The higher takeoff weights will increase the Ch-53’s capabilities, particularly for long-range special missions operations. The Ch-53’s original max takeoff weight was 19,700kg (43,420lb).

Sikorsky To Push Mass Transit Helos

Sikorsky is to begin promoting support for the use of helicopters for mass transit, saying that advances in technology are placing helicopters on the brink of a revolution in air transport. The vision was outlined by Sikorsky president Gene Buckley at Farnborough, who said that the helicopter, particularly larger aircraft such as its proposed 19-seat S-92 commuter, should soon form an integral part of the mass transport system, linking city centres with major airports.

He cited the plans for New York’s Guadalcanal Heliport as a model for what can be achieved. The New York project will become operational in the coming months and involves using retired Us Navy aircraft carrier Uss Guadalcanal moored next to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum as a heliport capable of handling three air movements simultaneously, with parking space for 20 helos. Later a larger heliport could be built on New York’s Hudson River at a cost of $US100m.

Uk Apache $15Bn Offset Deal Announced

Westland has announced details of its offset programme that could generate up to $A15bn in business for Uk aerospace companies if the Uk Ministry of Defence selects the Westland/McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache for the British Army’s attack helicopter requirement. Full 100% offset if the Apache is selected would see more than 50% of the contract’s value spent on work directly related to the Uk Apache, with further work coming from Uk participation in Us-led space and missile programmes. In addition, further Uk participation in Us export programmes, possibly including future export sales of the Apache, could be worth as much as $A10bn.

The Apache was for a long time considered the favourite for the British Army’s requirement for 91 attack helicopters, while the other competing aircraft are the Eurocopter/Bae Tiger, Bell/Gec Cobra Venom and Denel/Marshall Aerospace Rooivalk. Perhaps surprisingly the South African Rooivalk is now regarded as a serious contender for the programme, now that Denel has teamed with the Uk’s Marshall Aerospace. Final bids for the programme are now in, and the Uk Ministry of Defence expects to award the contract early next year.

Two Seat Ka-50 Under Development

Kamov has begun development of a two-seat version of its single-seat Ka-50 Hokum close support attack helicopter, designated V-80Sh2. The Russian army selected the Ka-50 in preference to the Mil Mi-28 Havoc, but the Kamov design has been criticised for imposing high workloads on its single crew member on some combat missions. The army would ultimately take delivery of a mix of two-seat and single-seat (designated V-80Sh1) Ka-50s to meet its requirements. The two-seat Ka-50 could fly as early as July next year.

The single-seat Ka-50 performed Russian army acceptance trials last year, although no production machines have yet been delivered. Mil meanwhile is developing an all-weather version of the Havoc designated Mi-28N which could be fitted with a millimetre wave radar, in a bid to attract Russian army business. Russia’s need for a new attack helicopter grows by the day as the availability of ageing and maintenance-intensive Mi-24 Hind assault/attack helicopters worsens. It has been estimated that 405 of the Russian army’s Hind fleet would have to be retired by 2000, and yet the Russian army says it has not taken delivery of a single new helicopter thus far this year.

To Catch A Thief, Notar Style

The gods were smiling on McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems sales reps who were pitching the Md 520N to the Calgary Police Services in Canada recently. Immediately after McDonnell Douglas reps Tony Brown and Don Bachali had completed a demonstration flight for a local Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reporter, they were approached by police Constable Michael Lemore who alerted them that there was a car robbery in progress. With that, Lemore and Brown lifted off in the Md 520N in pursuit of the stolen car.

The car was spotted almost immediately, and as the helo was equipped with a Wulfsberg radio with preset channels, Brown and Lemore were able to provide real-time communications with ground units, the dispatcher and headquarters. The car thieves tried desperately to evade police cars that were giving chase, but because of the quiet Md 520N tailing 500ft above them as an airborne command centre, their efforts were in vain. The thieves finally abandoned the stolen car and tried to escape on foot, but the helicopter hovering above them was able to direct pursuing policemen on foot to capture them. Calgary Police were certain that without the helo the thieves would have evaded capture, and that they would still be looking for them, while Mdhs rep Brown commented that “because its so quiet, I doubt they ever heard us coming.”

Briefs

• Melbourne’s Yarra River heliport is to be relocated further downstream and its facilities upgraded as part of Melbourne City Council’s plans to open up the Yarra’s north bank opposite the site of the permanent casino.
• The revolutionary Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt rotor has passed a crucial Us Department of Defense Defense Acquisition Board Cost and Operational Effectiveness Analysis, which recommended that the V-22 go into production, despite the programme being on a hit list of major defence programmes open to cancellation. The Us Marine Corps still has a requirement for more than 550 Ospreys to replace ageing Ch-46s, while further aircraft could be acquired for special missions operations.
• Bell Helicopter Textron Canada has delivered its 1000th helicopter in less than 10 years of production. Bell progressively transferred production of its commercial helo programmes to Mirabel, Canada from the mid-1980s. The Mirabel plant produces five Bell models, with 1300 employees.
• Particularly bad forest fires in the Usa saw heavylift operator Columbia Helicopter’s three Boeing Chinooks and nine Bv-107s used extensively for firebombing recently. Through to late August the helos dropped over 90 million litres of fire retardant on 42 fires in nine Us western states, shattering the previous record of 55m litres in 1988.
• The Us Army has donated a surplus Bell Uh-1H Iroquois to the Rnzaf Museum at Wigram. The Iroquois is actually a year younger than New Zealand’s own Uh-1s, which it will be painted to represent.
• Malaysia plans to acquire attack helicopters to form part of a proposed new army air corps, plus naval helicopters for its new frigates it has on order, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly. Alouettes would be used for training. Currently Malaysia operates 34 S-61s, 25 Alouette IiIs, seven Bell 47s, a Super Puma and an Agusta A 109.
• Network Ten has sold two of its three As 355B Twin Squirrels, while a third is in Sydney awaiting sale. The Network’s Melbourne and Sydney helicopters, Vh-Htv and Vh-Nwa respectively, are understood to have been sold to a New Zealand operator for Police contract work, while the Brisbane machine Vh-Xtv is currently working in Sydney while a new owner is sought. In the future, Ten will lease single-engine helos on an as-needed basis. At the same time, the Seven Network is outfitting a Twin Squirrel to replace a JetRanger it currently operates.
• The New Zealand Caa has banned Hamilton-based Helistar Helicopters from launching a new thrill seekers ride dubbed ‘The Rack’, where people dangle 12m below a helicopter in a harness. The Caa has barred Helistar from offering the ride until it is convinced it is safe. Helistar for its part says it has exhaustively tested the ride, and has become frustrated by Caa delays.