Rotor Torque

Adfa Lecturer Develops Revolutionary Blade

Australian Defence Force Academy aeronautical engineering lecturer Kaliope Vassilopoulos has been developing a revolutionary helicopter blade aerofoil design which is theoretically capable of reducing drag by up to 60%. The new blade design features a serrated trailing edge (similar to the battlements on castles), which does not adversely affect lift and promotes streamwise vortices rather than spanwise flow, reducing pressure drag by as much as 60% in steady airflow. The design may also have applications for the trailing edges of the wings of fixed wing aircraft. Ms Vassilopoulos has been testing the unique design as part of her PhD studies. The serrated edge design was originally conceived by colleague Associate Professor Sudhir Gai. Research is continuing with funding from ADFA’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. A flying prototype is some time off and the design would need to be adopted by a helicopter manufacturer to become a reality.

Shortened S-61 Flies

Washington State USA based Helipro has flown a prototype of its shortened Sikorsky S-61N conversion, which it has dubbed the Shortsky. The shortening involves the removal of a 1.3m section of the fuselage just forward of the air intakes. The shortening and subsequent reduction in the S-61’s structural weight improves single engine performance and raises its maximum external lifting capacity by 450kg (990lb) to 4990kg (11,990lb). Three Shortsky conversions have already been completed and US and Canadian supplemental certification was expected in March. Helipro expects that at least 10 Shortskys will be in service or undergoing conversion by early 1997. Helipro is also pursuing Cat A single engine certification (the ability to maintain elevated deck height on one engine) for the Shortsky (which the S-61N does not have), making it attractive to current S-61 offshore oil rig support operators.

Spain Orders Cougars

Spain has opted to order 15 Eurocopter AS 532UL Cougars ahead of the Sikorsky Black Hawk, in a deal sweetened by France’s purchase of seven additional CASA CN-235 tactical transports for the French air force. Spain had originally planned to announce its order for the new army helicopter in mid last year, but the decision was delayed first by the retirement of the then defence minister, and then by visits by both the French and US presidents who supported their respective countries’ bids for the order. Prior to the CN-235 deal, Spain was believed to have been favouring the Black Hawk, as Sikorsky proposed that Gamesa licence assemble the helicopter in northern Spain. The Cougar order is worth approximately $US207m, with the aircraft delivered between the first half of 1998 and 2003. The deal includes 100% offsets for Spanish industry, which as well as the CN-235s includes CASA work on the Cougars’ fuselage. To date 34 countries have ordered nearly 440 Cougars/Super Pumas. Meanwhile the Royal Brunei Air Force, through the Brunei Ministry of Defence, has ordered four Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawks for delivery during 1997/1998. Brunei already operates two VIP S-70Cs for transport of the Sultan of Brunei. Sikorsky has delivered more than 2200 S-70 Hawk series helicopters to the governments and militaries of 21 nations.

Germany Orders Bo 105s For Rescue

Germany’s Ministry of the Interior will lease 17 brand new Eurocopter BO 105 EC Super Five helicopters to be used for search and rescue and civil defence work throughout Germany. A six year leasing contract was signed with Eurocopter Deutschland late last year, with the first two BO 105s delivered in January. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed in early 1997. The 17 new helicopters, plus five older BO 105s upgraded to EC Super Five configuration, will be operated on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior by the flight unit of the Federal Border Guards (the Bundesgrenzschutz) and be based throughout Germany. The current helicopter fleet has an average age of 20 years and suffer from increased maintenance and operating costs.

Daewoo And Mil Team

South Korea’s Daewoo Heavy Industries has teamed with Russia’s leading helicopter designer, Mil, to work on new advanced helicopters. Initially Mil will train Korean engineers in helicopter design. Later Mil is expected to provide the design expertise and Daewoo the funding and production capability to build new helicopter designs. The two companies had previously teamed with the Kazan Helicopter Production Association to develop an updated development of the Mi-17, but little has since been heard of this project.

Glass Cockpit For Black Hawk

Sikorsky is now offering a glass cockpit and digital avionics suite as an option on the Black Hawk helicopter. Sikorsky is offering various glass cockpit installations and a digital Automated Flight Computer System to simplify pilot workload. The optional EFIS system would provide primary flying and navigation data (both civil and tactical), flight direction, weather radar display and flight plan and search pattern display. The Digital AFCS includes autopilot and coupled modes including automatic approach to hover from any altitude and airspeed, automatic departure and autohover mode.

Thailand Eases Helicopter Operation Restrictions

The Thai Government has relaxed long standing restrictions on the corporate ownership and operation of helicopters within Thailand. The Thai Government will now consider applications from large companies with registered capital in excess of $US1.2m for five year helicopter operator licences. Once granted a licence, the holder would have to commence helicopter operations within six months and they would then be subject to a twice yearly operational and safety audit. Charter operators would have to have their charter rates pre-approved and all passengers must carry insurance. Single engine helicopters will be restricted from flying in certain areas of the country. Thailand has strict controls over helicopter operations because of concerns of smaller operators’ abilities to pay compensation should they be found liable for an accident. Before the changes were announced Thailand had just five corporate holders of helicopter operator licences.

Good 1995 For Mcdonnell Douglas

1995 was one of the best years on record for McDonnell Douglas Helicopters, with increased civil deliveries and a growing order backlog. The Mesa Arizona based helicopter manufacturer delivered 27 MD 500 series aircraft and 12 MD Explorers. Civil deliveries for 1996 are expected to be even better with production of the Explorer building and first deliveries of the new MD 600N planned for the end of the year. In total, McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems delivered 75 helicopters in 1995, including 36 AH-64A Apaches for the US Army and export customers. During 1995 the company scored significant military orders for the AH-64D Apache from the US Army, UK and the Netherlands. In addition McDonnell Douglas has firm orders for 66 MD Explorers, with currently scheduled deliveries continuing through to 1999.

Briefs

Dallas based Omniflight has ordered 12 new Agusta helicopters worth approx $US29m including six new A 119 Koalas, the first recorded sale for the new helicopter. Agusta has also announced that production A 119s will be powered by the 1000shp (745kW) Pratt & Whitney PW206, rather than the Turbomeca Arriel 1 which powers the two prototypes.

Brisbane based Flightline has taken delivery of the first Schweizer 300CB in Australia, which it will use as its demonstrator.

Australia’s first licensed commercial helicopter pilot Captain Maxwell Holyman, died in Melbourne recently. Captain Holyman was the great grandson of William Holyman, the founder of William Holyman and Sons transport company which established Holyman Airways, the predecessor of Australian National Airways. Max Holyman flew with the RAAF during WW2 and was awarded a DFC. He held a pilot’s licence between the ages of 17 and 70 during which time he accumulated over 17,500 hours mostly on helicopters.

The fifth Eurocopter Tiger prototype made its first flight on February 21 from the company’s test site at Ottobrunn near Munich in Germany. The prototype, PT5, is in German Army UH (Unterstutzungshubschrauber) configuration. It will carry out weapons trials for the UH configuration with Stinger AAMs, unguided rockets, HOT-2 and Trigat anti-armour missiles and the 12.7mm gunpod. Test firings are due to commence next year following integration and function testing of all of the aircraft’s systems.

A near new Bell LongRanger has been brought from Japan for a new search and rescue service for Rockhampton. The service, which will have some State Government funding, is being established by iron man and helo pilot Grant Kenny and businessman Des Scanlon.

A recent newspaper article reports that the mysterious deaths of 80 rock wallabies in the Blue Mountains may have been caused by low flying military helicopters and aircraft. According to the report, Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust resource manager Ernst Holland had witnessed wallabies jumping from cliffs to their deaths to escape helicopter and aircraft noise before a no-fly zone was introduced mid last year.

Hindustan Aeronautics has been flying an LHTEC CTS800 powered ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) since December 26 last year. The 1200shp (900kW) CTS800 is a commercial development of the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66’s T800. The 1025shp (765kW) Turbomeca TM333 turboshaft powers the first three prototypes and was to have been the only engine fitted to the ALH, but Indian military pressure has led to the evaluation of the CTS800 powered ALH. ALH production deliveries are planned from 1998.

The US DoD supplied almost 400 military surplus helicopters to US operators during 1995, dampening demand for new build turbine powered helicopters.

Kaman has successfully test fired the AGM-65 Maverick from its SH-2G Super Seasprite.