Mi-38 Helicopter: specifications and photos

In 2015, the Kazan Helicopter Plant is scheduled to launch a serial production of the Mi-38 helicopter. A photo of the new machine and its life-size mock-ups were presented back in 1989 during the international aerospace exhibition in Le Bourget. Design work began two years earlier, but only in the early nineties the company began assembling the first prototype. On this, however, the difficulties did not end. It took more than a decade for the prospect of concrete practical implementation to loom before this machine. The fact is that the Mi-38 helicopter is conceived as a replacement of the veteran Mi-8, deserved and beloved by the airmen of many countries (and primarily Russian ones). The task is responsible, but there is a hope that the newbie will not disappoint.

Replace the Mi-8 - a difficult task

The Mi-8 became one of the mass rotorcraft in the history of world aviation. His first prototype, another one-engine, took off in the year of Gagarin's flight. We worked on the construction long and carefully. The helicopter turned out to be almost ideally suited to the requirements for trucks of the passenger class. It can be used for a variety of purposes, both civilian and military. Twelve thousand Mi-8 units of several dozen modifications have been built. The range of application is wide, from agricultural to assault landing. Operators were more than fifty countries in different climatic zones of the planet - from the Arctic to the equator and further to Antarctica. Among the countries that purchased this helicopter are the USA, Canada, South Korea, Finland.

Mi-8 are manufactured and purchased to this day. The machine is very reliable, unpretentious and easy to maintain. Manage it easily and pleasantly. To surpass this masterpiece is an ambitious task. The Mi-38 helicopter should be even better, and much more. Fuel efficiency, not so important in the early sixties, today becomes one of the main aviation parameters. It should double in comparison with the Mi-8, or three times better.

External comparison of Mi-8 and Mi-38

At first glance, there are many similarities in the general principles on which Mi-8 and Mi-38 helicopters are built. The photo of the car shows a certain continuity, manifested in the arrangement of the main units and assemblies. The fuselage is made on a semi-monocoque scheme, with a flat floor and a round aerodynamic ceiling. The chassis is not removable, three-bearing, the bearing screw is five-blade. The pilot's cabin at the bottom is opaque, unlike the Mi-8 light. The shape of the nose is pointed, above it there are no usual protruding fairings of air intakes of turbines. The steering screw is four-blade. Volumetric fuel tanks, located at the Mi-8 along the sides in the lower part of the fuselage, are hidden inside the Mi-38. The technical characteristics, however, in these two compared machines differ significantly.

Technical indicators

First, the practical range has grown. With a total fuel reserve of 3796 liters, the Mi-38 helicopter can fly 800 km (from the Mi-8, depending on the modification, this figure ranges from 425 to 590 km). The cargo cabin has become larger, its dimensions are 8630 mm (length), 2400 mm (width) and 1850 mm (height). Load capacity reached 6 tons. The speed also increased: in the Mi-8 it averaged 225 km / h, which is 65 km / h lower than the Mi-38. The technical characteristics of the new machine favorably differ in terms of the ceiling, in 2012 it set a world record of 8600 m, but the following year it turned out that the Mi-8MSB veteran helicopter, if equipped with engines of a new type TV3-117VMA- SBM1V, too, is capable of something. He climbed to a new record height of 9,150 meters. The rate of climb, however, remained "unbeaten": in 6 minutes, three thousand meters can only Mi-38. The characteristics of this car, therefore, promise her a long and successful career in Aeroflot, the Air Force, and abroad.

Technological innovations of materials

Gone are the days when aircraft all over the world made only of duralumin. The Mi-38 helicopter is made with a wide use of plastic and composite materials. The blades of both screws have a multilayer structure, are made with a winding method, which ensures their high elasticity and practically unlimited lifetime (at least during the entire operation time of the machine). The polymer material is also used in the manufacture of bearing and steering screws (so-called elastomeric bearings are installed), so lubrication is not required for these assemblies. In the manufacture of non-rigid elements of the fuselage (hoods, cockpit, instrument panels, outer surface of the ramp and beam fairings), three-layer sandwich panels are used. Combined sheathing consists of external metal and internal polymer-honeycomb layers.

Power point

Ideally, the power required for efficient operation of the machine is 5000 liters. from. It is developed by two engines. There were two versions of the Mi-38 power plant. 2 turbo engines Pratt & Whitney Canada are developing the right effort, providing the required economic indicators. Manages their work booster system, which has triple redundancy. This scheme was dictated by the high export potential of the new machine. In 1990, it was assumed that it will be produced by a specially created joint venture "EuroMil", whose shareholders will be the plant named after. Milya, the Kazan helicopter plant, the firm Eurocopter and the NGO im. V.Ya. Klimov. Hopes, however, were not justified, the European concern left the joint venture board in 13 years , although it continues to cooperate with him on mutually beneficial terms. Most likely, the serial models will be equipped with Klimovski motors TV7-117V, which are not worse than the overseas analogs, although they have a slightly lower power (2 x 2350 = 4,700 hp), but they will be able to successfully lift the Mi-38. The helicopter, whose characteristics will suffer from this insignificantly, will remain independent of imports.

Devices

The modern avionics complex IBCO-38 is designed and manufactured by the company Transas Aviation, and the technology of the "transparent cabin" is implemented in it. This means that, thanks to the instruments, the crew will be able to have a circular view, visually assessing the situation around the aircraft and under it. Pilots' workplaces are equipped with five liquid crystal displays, the computer complex performs digital control of the modes of the engines and all on-board equipment. The autopilot also works on the basis of a PC. Navigation is equipped with a Doppler speedometer. In the bow is located the radar, in addition to the spatial position of the machine evaluating and weather conditions. There is also a separate camera, allowing you to monitor the position of the load on the external suspension. Mass and centering characteristics are estimated automatically.

Security questions

To successfully pass international certification, any aircraft manufacturer must ensure the fulfillment of a number of conditions for an international organization of ICAO. In all, at the moment, four prototypes have been produced. The last Mi-38 (OP-4) differs from the previous one by the presence of a fuel system that withstands strong impacts against the ground. Thus, a high level of fire safety is achieved. The chassis, which suppresses the impulse from collision with the ground at high rates of descent, is also a measure of increasing the survivability of the crew and passengers in the event of a freelance situation, but they were constructively envisaged already in the development of the previous Mi-38 helicopters (OP-2 and OP-3).

2014 was the date of completion of all test activities and the end of the preliminary design work. After the launch of the series production, the design improvement will undoubtedly continue, including in terms of increasing the safety of operation.

Loading and unloading options

Already in the development of the basic model, the KB specialists. Milya realized that as long as they created a multipurpose machine, it should be adapted to the solution of the widest possible range of tasks. To do this, you need to think about the possibility of a fairly simple construction of profile modifications based on the basic scheme. To begin with, you need a passenger car (in this version it can accommodate 32 people). The needs of the armed forces should also not be forgotten, the Defense Ministry - the customer is profitable and reliable. The national economy will also need to replace the Mi-8, therefore, cargo modification is also needed. Emergency Ministry helicopter is useful. And then - time will tell.

In all cases, the machine needs simple, reliable and convenient means of loading and rigging. All this is equipped with an Mi-38 helicopter. The photo of the cargo cabin impresses by the thoughtfulness of the arrangement of all the units intended for this task. The cargo ramp has a width of 1800 mm, it is equipped with a lifting mechanism with remote hydraulic control. In the opening of the side cargo door, a universal winch of a high (300 kg) lifting capacity is mounted, and movements within the cabin are facilitated by removable roller tracks.

Soon!

Expect to start the regular operation of the Mi-38 helicopter, apparently, not long. The first serial model has already been laid on the stalls of the Kazan Helicopter Plant, followed by others. A few years will pass, and the characteristic silhouette of this car will become familiar to everyone. Will the Mi-38 have the same number as the 8th? Will they become as famous throughout the world? Time will tell.