Rotor Torque

Two Mrh 90s Flew to the Navy’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trial Unit at Hmas Albatross, Nowra, in August to Be Instrumented and Conduct Work Up Flights for the Trials. Both Helicopters Will Embark Onboard Hmas Kanimbla for the Flight Trials, Expected to Commence in October/november, in Seas Off the Coast of Hobart. Australian Aviation Understands the Navy Wants to Conduct the First of Class Flight Trials in Rough Sea States With the Ocean Off Tasmania’s Southeast Coast Offering Favourable Conditions.

August Proved a Busy Month for the Mrh 90 Team. The Army’s a Squadron, 5 Aviation Regiment (5 Avn Regt), Based in Townsville, Took Delivery of the Seventh Mrh 90, A40-007, on August 3. The Eighth Mrh 90, A40-008, Was Expected to Be Delivered to 5 Avn Regt in September.

In Early August the Raaf’s Amtdu Began External Load Lifting Trials in Townsville Using the Mrh 90’s Cargo Hook. Test Loads Used During the Trials Ranged From a Concrete Block to an Army Land Rover.

And the First Mrh 90 Pilots Course Run to the Army Syllabus Commenced in the Second Week of August to Train Up Four Pilots.

The Mrh 90s Have Been Experiencing a Number of Technical Setbacks Recently Which Reduced the Number of Serviceable Helicopters Available to Conduct Certification Trials and Crew Training.

Raytheon to Support Ran Squirrels

Raytheon Australia Has Been Awarded a Contract to Support the Ran’s As350ba Squirrel Training Helicopters Operated by 723sqn at Nowra.

The Performance Based Contract, Worth $9. 5 Million Per Year for an Initial Five Years With Four One Year Options to Extend, Will See Raytheon Maintain the Squirrel Fleet Until It is Replaced by a New Type Under Air 9000 Phase 7.

“the Contract Will Provide Management, Engineering, Maintenance, and Supply Services to the Navy Under a Single, More Efficient and Effective Contract Arrangement,” Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, Said.

Korean Utility Helicopter Prototype Unveiled

Korean Aerospace Industries (Kai) and Eurocopter Rolled Out the First Korean Utility Helicopter (Kuh) Prototype on July 31.

Launched in June 2006 the Kuh is a Transport Helicopterin the Eight Tonne Class Designed to Replace the Korean Army’s Existing Utility Helicopter Fleet From 2012.

The Maiden Flight of the Prototype is Planned for Early 2010 With Serial Production for 245 Helicopters on Order for the Republic of Korea Army to Start Late in That Year.

Eurocopter, the Primary Partner in the Kuh Program, Developed and Manufactures the Helicopter’s Gearboxes, Rotor Mast and Autopilot and Provides Technical Assistance to Kai.

50,000 Kiowa Hours for Bda

Boeing Defence Australia (Bda) Achieved 50,000 Hours of Flying Support for the Adf’s Fleet of Bell 206b-1 Kiowa Helicopters in July.

Bda’s Army Aviation Training and Training Support (Aatts) Program Based at Oakey, Queensland, Provides the Army With Pilot and Aircrew Training, Fleet Maintenance and Support Services for the Kiowa and the S-70a-9 Black Hawk Helicopters.

“most Civilian Platforms Average Anywhere From 1000 to 2000 Flight Hours Per Year, However the Kiowa is a Training Workhorse and the Team at Oakey Ensures the Program Clocks Up to 6000 Hours Per Year,” Said Aatts Program Project Manager Matthew Sibre.

Bda Will Continue to Support the Kiowa Until the Type is Eventually Phased Out and Replaced by a New Training Helicopter Under Air 9000 Phase 7.

X2 Prepar Es for Highspeed Test Flights

Sikorsky’s X2 Technology Demonstrator Has Relocated to the Company’s West Palm Beach, Florida, Development Flight Test Facility to Begin the High Speed Portion of Theexperimental Helicopter’s Fourphase Flight Test Program.

During the First Phase the X2 Has Accumulated Approximately 15 Hours of Test Flying Since It Made First Flight in August Last Year, and Recently Reached a Maximum Forward Speed of 52kt With Its Pusher Propeller Engaged.

Sikorsky Plans to Fly as Fast as 80kt, 120kt and 250kt in Phases Two, Three and Four, Respectively.

Before Moving the Helicopter to Florida Sikorsky Installed Hub Drag Reduction Fairings and a New Landing Gear System.

Skyhook Hlv Design Frozen

Boeing’s Advanced Rotorcraft Systems Team and Skyhook International Have Frozen the Design Configuration of Their Skyhook Heavy Lift Vehicle (Hlv), Establishing the Aircraft’s Overall Performance and Layout.

Resembling an Airship, the Vtol Skyhook is a ‘neutrally Buoyant Aircraft’. It Has Been in Development Since July 2008, and is Designed to Carry 36,000kg Sling Loads Up to 370km Without Refuelling.

“the Skyhook Hlv Technology is Like Nothing That Has Ever Existed,” Said Skyhook Director Rob Mayfield. “we Anticipate That the Operational Capability of This Aircraft Will Allow Skyhook’s Customers to Radically Change the Way They Resupply and Operate in Remote Regions, Especially the North. In the Oil and Gas Industry There Are Significant Pressures on Cost, Speed, Safety, and Environmental Impact, and the Skyhook Hlv Represents Solutions to Each of These Challenges in Various Applications. ” the Next Major Program Milestone Will Be Detailed Design in 2011, Which Centres on the Design, Analysis and Specification of All Hardware, Software and Related Aircraft and Ground Support Systems Interfaces.

Boeing is Designing and Will Fabricate a Production Sky- Hook Hlv Prototype at Its Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, Plant, With the First Aircraft Scheduled to Fly in 2014.

Helibiz Safari Takes Off to the Top End

Queensland Based Robinson Helicopter Dealer Helibiz Embarked on Its Longest Helicopter Safari in Early August to the Northwest Region of Australia.

Helibiz Helicopter Safaris Coordinated 20 R44s and Single Examples Each of the Ec120, As350ba Squirrel and Bell 206l Longranger to Fly the 12 Day Safari Which Took Its 60 Pilots and Crew to Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Darwin, the Kimberly and Broome.

“planning for This Safari Was Extensive Due to the Amount of Places We Visited and the Need for Refuelling in Some of Australia Most Remote Areas,” Said Helibiz Helicopter Safaris Organiser Troy Holloway.

“some of the Helicopters and Crew Had Travelled From as Far as Tasmania, Victoria and Southern Western Australia to Be Involved in the Safari. ” a Transcontinental Flight From Melbourne to Perth is Currently Being Planned for a Future Helicopter Safari.

French Tigers Go to Afghanistan

Three French Army Tiger Haps Deployed to Afghanistan on July 26, Marking the First Time the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Has Deployed to an Operational Theatre.

The Tigers, From the 5 Ème Régiment D’ Hélicoptères De Combat (5e Rhc) at Pau, on the Northern Edge of the Pyrenees, Will Be Used on Armed Reconnaissance, Support and Escort Missions and Will Join Three Ec725 Caracals and Three Gazelle Viviane Helicopters Already Deployed in Support of Coalition Operations in Kabul.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin Announced the Tiger Deployment on June 5.

Briefs

• Western Australia’s Heliwest Won an Ems Support Contract With Bhp Billiton in July.

Perth Based Heliwest Will Use a Bell 206l Longranger, Soon to Be Replaced by a Bo 105ls3, to Provide Aeromedical Services to the Resource Giant’s Rapid Growth Project 5 Located in Western Australia’s Pilbara Region.

• Australian Aerospace Completed the Refurbishment of Its 1500th Helicopter Rotor Blade, a Tail Rotor Off a Bristow Helicopters As332 Super Puma, at the Company’s Sydney Rotor Blade Repair Shop in July. The Blade Repair Facility Opened in 1992.

• Canadian Based Heli-lynx Helicopters is Attempting Toobtain a European Supplemental Type Certification (Stc) for Its Honeywell Lts101-700d-2 Powered As350fx Squirrel Helicopter Modification. Last Year the Company Attained an Easa Stc for Its As355fx Which Includes Two Rolls- Royce C20f/r Engines in Place of the Original Turbomeca Ariel 1d1 Engine, a New Electrical System, a Glass Cockpit and Redesigned Cabin.

• the Rnzaf Has Acquired Six Surplus Kaman Sh-2f Seasprite Airframes Plus Four Mitsubishi Mu-2 Twins for Use as Ground Trainers for Technical Trade Training. The Airframes Will Be Based at Woodbourne.

• According to the July/august Edition of Eurocopter’s Rotor Journal, the First Ec175 Prototype Was Powered Up for the First Time on April 6.

The Ec 175 is in Final Stages of Assembly and Will Soon Be Transferred to the Flightline for Tests Before Making First Flight Before the End of the Year. Easa, Faa and Tcca Certifications Remain Targeted for 2011 With First Customer Delivery Due in 2012.

• Boeing Recognised the 45 Years of Service by the Ch-46 Sea Knight in July. Affectionately Known as the Phrog, 168 of the 624 Helicopters Originally Built Remain in Operation With the Us Marine Corps and Are Still Maintained by Boeing.

• Rotorway Has Selected the Rolls-royce Rr300b1 to Power Its Two-seat Eagle 300t Helicopter. The Rr300b1 is the Second New Model in the Rr300 Engine Program.