Rotor Torque

“The rigid rotor system was rocksolid and provided a phenomenal amount of control,” said Fell. “You very quickly make inputs in roll and in pitch and there’s no lag like a typical articulated rotor system.

The aircraft responds immediately to your control input. We were able to march through the [flight test] card almost precisely like we did in simulation and get all of the data we desired. ” The first flight, just shy of four years since Sikorsky last flew itsX2 demonstrator, marks the start of a year-long, 100-flight-hour test program to expand to the Raider’s flight envelope. Sikorsky aims for the Raider to achieve a 220kt cruise speed while carrying weapons, be able to hover at 6,000ft on a 35 degree Celsius day and perform 3G manoeuvres at speed.

Final assembly of the second S-97 prototype has begun at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center.

Airwork Helicopters obtains CASA approval for composite tail rotor blades

Caboolture’s Airwork Helicopters has obtained a supplemental type certificate (STC) and Australian Parts Manufacturing Approval (APMA) from CASA to manufacture a new composite tail rotor blade for the Bell 206 series of helicopters.

Following four years of development and certification, Airwork Helicopters has commenced production of the Kevlar and carbon fibre blades, which founder and CEO MylesTomkins says will offer a 30 per cent cost advantage and double the life over standard 206 tail rotor blades.

“The blades offer a higher margin of safety due to their increased strength and higher thrust for an equivalent power setting as well as a very substantial noise reduction which will be very popular for helicopter operators that fly in and around noise-sensitive environments,” said Tomkins. “Our tail rotor blades are approved for Bell 206 A and B models and will shortly be approved for use on the LongRanger. ” Tomkins acknowledged the efforts of CASA, the Queensland government, Auto Avia Design’s engineering expertise along with thousands of hours of dedication and hard work by his team. “Obtaining the STC and the APMA is the first step in our long-term growth strategy to develop a world class facility in advanced composites manufacturing at Caboolture Airport,” he said. “We are now actively evaluating additional production opportunities for both helicopter and fixed-wingaircraft composites structures and components. ” Negotiations are advancing with a US parts distributor who will take on the global marketing, sales and distribution and pitch the blades to over 6,000 Bell 206 series operators around the world.

RNZAF Iroquois on final tour

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) fleet of six operational UH-1H Iroquois will make their last operational flight on July 1 after almost 50 years of service to New Zealand.

Ahead of their withdrawal from service, RNZAF’s 3 Squadron took the Iroquois on a final tour making various stops around the country during May to mark the importance of the helicopter in service.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has issued a tender, referred to as the ‘Iroquois package’, to sell 10 of its remaining Iroquois, four of which are in long-term storage plus the six operational helicopters, on an “as is, where is” basis and “without any warranty as to fitness for purpose or airworthiness in their current state”. The NZDF says it is looking to sell all 10 helicopters as a package to one purchaser for ease of transaction and is subject to US Department of State approval to transfer certain US-sourced military equipment as a condition of the original purchase.

In addition to the sale, one of the Iroquois will be transferred to the Army Museum at Waiouru with two going to the Air Force Museum in Christchurch for public display purposes.

H160 prototype breaks cover, first ground run

Airbus Helicopters unveiled its first H160 prototype on May 29 at its Marignane, France facility less than three months after debuting as the X4 mockup at Heli-Expo.

A day earlier, the first prototype, registered F-WWOG, successfully performed its first engine ground run ahead of a first flight expected to occur in early July.

The twin-engine, 5. 5 to six-tonne H160 will sit between the H145 and the H175 in Airbus Helicopters’ product range.

The H160’s final performance specifications will be announced progressively as the development program continues.

New facility for Eagle Copters Australasia opens at Coffs Harbour

Eagle Copters Australasia officially opened a new maintenance facility at its Coffs Harbour Airport base on May 29 as part of the helicopter leasing, sales and support services company’s expansion plans.

The two new hangars, adding to an existing 375m2 hangar established at the airport less than two years ago, gives Eagle Copters Australasia more room to complete its helicopter refurbishment work, carry out scheduled maintenance, provide repainting services and undertake avionics installations.

Eagle Copters Australasia’s managing director Grant Boyter said the delivery of a specially-designed structural fixture later this year will be set up at the facility to convert factory Bell 407s, fitted with Rolls-Royce 250-C4B7 turbine engines, with a Honeywell HTS‑900D-2 as a partof its Eagle 407HP helicopter conversions.

Eagle Copters Australasia has a fleet of medium and large helicopters under lease throughout Australia and Indonesia working in emergency services, mining and fire fighting industries.

H145M achieves EASA certification

Airbus Helicopters has achieved European Aviation Safety Agency certification for its H145M, the militarised version of its H145 – previously designated the EC145 T2.

Launch customer for the H145M, the Bundeswehr (the German armed forces), has ordered 15 of the type, to be operated by the German air force.

The H145M has an increased maximum takeoff weight of 3,700kg and can be equipped with a pintle-mounted door gun and carry weapons on external pylons. The helicopter comes fitted with crew ballistic protection, electro-optical and infrared sensors with targeting capability, sealing fuel tanks, and electronic warfare self-protection. A rappelling rope system is available for special operations.

First deliveries to the German air force will occur before year’s end, while deliveries to the Royal Thai Navy will commence from early 2016.

RAAF C-17s locked and loaded with MRH 90

Air Force’s Air Mobility Group trialed the loading of an operational MRH 90 Taipan onto a RAAF C-17 in mid-May, paving the way for Defence to transport the helicopter anywhere in the world by air.

The trial was conducted at RAAF Base Townsville using a Taipan from Army’s 5 Aviation Regiment. However, this was not the first timean MRH 90 has been loaded onto a C-17. The RAAF ferried two of the helicopters, although not in an operational state, to Brisbane Airport from the then Eurocopter factory in France in 2008 for final reassembly.

One of the Air Mobility Group’s goals for the load trial was to examine how to best minimise the amount of maintenance required to prepare and reconstitute the helicopter once it arrives in location, allowing it to be operational as soon as possible.

New heavy-lift helicopter for Russia, China

Russia and China will collaborate to develop a new heavy-lift helicopter, dubbed the Advanced Heavy Lift (AHL), under an agreement signed on May 8.

The development of the AHL, which has been supported by Russian president Vladimir Putinand Chinese president Xi Jinping, will have a maximum takeoff weight of 38 tonnes and be capable of carrying 10 tonnes of cargo internally or 15 tonnes externally.

State-owned Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev said China would be the likely primary market for the AHL, with a potential requirement for 200 of the heavy-lift helicopters by 2040.

A final research and development contract for the helicopter is expected to be signed between the two countries later this year.

Airbus Helicopters demonstrates harmonious IFR approaches

Airbus Helicopters used an H175 in May to demonstrate a simultaneous non-interfering (SNI) instrument approach procedure for landing at a heliport at an airport with commercial IFR airline traffic.

The low-noise helicopter IFR approaches, conducted at Toulouse- Blagnac Airport in south-western France, was the result of a sevenyear project to develop environmentfriendly helicopter approach procedures.

The approaches, flown using lateral and vertical guidance provided by EGNOS (the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) and the European satellitebased augmentation system, were based on noise optimised flightpaths validated in 2013 with an H155 which reduced the noise footprint of the approaching helicopter by up to 50 per cent.

World’s heaviest-lifting helicopter gets an update

Russian Helicopters, the manufacturer of the world’s heaviestlifting commercial helicopter, announced in late May an updated version is now in series production. The Mi-26T2, essentially a modernised Mi-26T, is be equipped with a NVG-capable cockpit, featuring five multifunction LCD displays and an improved navigation and communications avionics suite, which the manufacturer says will reduce the required number of crew to operate the helicopter down to three.

The Mi-26T2 has a 56,000kg maximum takeoff weight, is capable of lifting a 20,000kg payload, a range of 432nm and cruises at 138kt.

This year marks 30 years since serial production was launched on the Mi-26T. The Mi-26T2 prototype made its first public appearance at Russia’s MAKS airshow in 2011.

The Algerian air force signed for six of the heavy-lift machines in March 2014.

ATSB releases Antarctic AS350B2 final report

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its final investigation report on May 25 into the crash of an AS350B2 in Antarctica during a scientific research operation.

Helicopter Resources’ VH-HRQ, operating with another helicopter, crashed shortly after both machines refuelled at a pre-positioned fuel cache at the Amery ice shelf, 240km west of Davis Base, on December 1 2013.

While climbing through approximately 300ft, both pilots identified a reduced surface definition and a loss of a visible horizon and elected to return to the fuel cache until the weather improved. During a right-hand turn, VH-HRQ descended and impacted terrain destroying the helicopter and injuring all three on board.

The ATSB found HRQ’s pilot did not detect the descent during the turn back. It concluded the pilot probably became spatially disoriented, with a loss of visual cues as a result of the change in weather conditions, and a breakdown of the scan of flight instruments were contributing factors of the collision.

Following this accident, Helicopter Resources has introduced new helicopters equipped with an autopilot and other equipment to reduce pilot workload. Simulator training administered by an experienced Antarctic pilot, a situational awareness course and training on the use of the autopilot and limitations of the radar altimeter have also been introduced.

The ATSB said this accident provides a timely reminder to flightcrews of the importance of monitoring the flight instruments when encountering areas of reduced visual cues.

First armed Bell 407GT

Bell Helicopter delivered its first Bell 407GT, an armed version of it 407GX, to Nevada-based Battle Born Munitions in late May.

The Bell 407GX, fitted with Garmin’s G1000HTM avionics, is qualified to fire a range of weapons from light munitions to advanced laser-guided munitions. Standard specifications include a multi-sensor camera system, universal weapons pylons, tactical radio suite, target sight system, sliding doors for rapid egress and ingress and highvisibility windows for the cockpit and cabin.

BBM will begin law enforcement and homeland security operations in the Middle East and Africa with the 407GT later this year