In 2015, the Kazan helicopter plant planned start of serial production of the Mi-38.Photos of the new machine and its life-size mock-ups presented in 1989 during the international aerospace exhibition in Le Bourget.Design work began two years earlier, but only in the early nineties, the company started the assembly of the first prototype.This difficulty, however, is not over.It took over a decade for this machine before the looming prospect of a specific practical embodiment.The fact that the Mi-38 is designed as a change of the honored and beloved aviators in many countries (and especially Russian), a veteran of the Mi-8.The task responsible, but there is hope that a beginner does not disappoint.
replace the Mi-8 - a difficult task
Mi-8 was one of the massive rotary-wing aircraft in the history of world aviation.His first prototype, even single-, took off a year of Gagarin's flight.We worked on the design of long and carefully.The helicopter turned out almost perfectly matches the requirements of the cars of cargo-passenger class.It can be used for many different purposes, both civilian and military.Built twelve thousand units of the Mi-8, several dozen modifications.The application range is wide, from the farm to the air assault destination.Operator began more than fifty countries in different climatic zones of the world - from the Arctic to the equator and then to the Antarctic.Among the countries that have purchased the helicopter - the United States, Canada, South Korea, Finland.
Mi-8 produced and purchased today.The machine is very reliable, unpretentious and easy to maintain.Manage it easy and pleasant.To surpass this masterpiece - an ambitious task.The Mi-38 should be even better, and much more.Fuel efficiency is not so important in the early sixties, it is becoming one of the major aviation parameters.It is compared with the Mi-8 is expected to grow twice, and three times better.
External comparison of the Mi-8 and Mi-38
At first glance, there are many similarities in the general principles on which built Mi-8 and Mi-38.Photo car shows some continuity, manifested in the arrangement of the main components and assemblies.The fuselage is made of semi-monocoque scheme, with a flat floor and rounded aerodynamic ceiling.Non-retractable landing gear, tripodal, five-blade main rotor.The cockpit at the bottom of the opaque unlike lamp Mi-8.The form of the bow is pointed at the top of it there is the usual projecting fairings turbine inlet.Four-bladed tail rotor.Bulk fuel tanks located at the Mi-8 on the sides at the bottom of the fuselage, hidden inside the Mi-38.Specifications, however, compared the two machines differ greatly.
Technical indicators
Firstly, increased practical range.With full fuel, equal to 3796 liters, the Mi-38 can fly 800 km (from the Mi-8, depending on the version, this figure ranges from 425 to 590 km).Became bulkier cargo compartment, its dimensions are 8630 mm (length), 2400 mm (width) and 1850 mm (height).Carrying capacity has reached 6 tons.It grew and speed: at the Mi-8, it was an average of 225 km / h, 65 km / h lower than the Mi-38.Technical specifications of the new machine, and compare favorably in terms of ceiling, in 2012 it set a world record, amounting to 8,600 m, but the following year it became clear that a veteran helicopter Mi-8MSB, if equipped with a new type of engine TV3-117VMA-SBM1V, it is also something that capable.He rose to a new record high at 9150 meters.The climb, however, remained "unbroken to": 6 minutes score three thousand meters can only Mi-38.Features of this machine, so it promises a long and successful career in Aeroflot and Air Force, and abroad.
Technological innovations materials
Gone are the days when the aircraft around the world made only from duralumin.The Mi-38 is made with extensive use of plastic and composite materials.The blades of both propellers have a multilayer structure formed by winding, ensuring their high elasticity and almost unlimited period of use (at least during the time of operation of the machine).The polymeric material is also used in the manufacture of sleeves and tail rotor (set so called elastomeric bearings), whereby lubrication these nodes are not required.In the manufacture of non-power elements of the fuselage (hood, cockpit, instrument panels, the outer surface of the ramp fairing and beam) used three-layer sandwich panels.Combined lining consists of a metal outer and inner polymer-cell layers.
Powerplant
Ideally, the power required for the effective operation of the machine is 5000 liters.from.It develops two engines.There are two options complete the power plant of the Mi-38.2 turboshaft engine "Pratt & Whitney Kenada" develop the necessary effort, providing the required economic indicators.Manage their work booster system with triple redundancy.This scheme was dictated by high export potential of the new machine.In 1990, it was assumed that it will be a specially created joint venture "Euromil", whose shareholders will plant them.Mile, Kazan Helicopters, the company "Eurocopter" and NPO.V.Ya.Klimova.Hope, however, did not materialize, the European concern in 13 years has left the board of the joint venture, while continuing to work with them on mutually beneficial terms.Most likely, the production models will be equipped with engines Klimovskaya TV7-117V that are not worse overseas counterparts, although a few have less power (2 x 2350 = 4700 hp), but it will be able to successfully raise the Mi-38.Helicopter, the characteristics of which suffer from it slightly, will remain independent from imports.
Devices
modern avionics IBKO-38 is designed and manufactured by "Transas Aviation", it implemented the technology "transparent cockpit".This means that the devices through crew can have circular charts, visually assessing the situation around the aircraft and beneath.Workplaces are equipped with five drivers liquid crystal displays, computer system provides digital control mode, the motor and all the on-board equipment.Autopilot also operates on the basis BEVM.Navigation is equipped with Doppler speedometer.In the bow is the radar, in addition to the spatial position of the machine evaluates and weather conditions.There is also a separate camera, which allows to control the position of the external load.Mass and centering characteristics are evaluated automatically.
Security
To succeed in the international certification of any aircraft manufacturer has to ensure the implementation of a number of conditions of the international organization ICAO.Total so far produced four prototypes.Last Mi-38 (OP-4) differs from the previous presence of the fuel system can withstand strong impacts on the ground.Thus, a high level of fire safety.Chassis, blanking from a collision with the ground at high speeds decrease, is also a measure to increase the survivability of the crew and passengers in the event of an extraordinary situation, but they are structurally stipulated already in the development of the previous instances (OP-2 and OP-3) of the Mi-38.
2014 was the date of the completion of all testing activities and the completion of the preliminary design work.After starting the series production design improvement, no doubt, will continue, including in terms of improving the safety of operation.
Handling options
early in the development of the basic model of specialists CB them.Mile understood that, as long as they have created a multi-purpose machine, it must be adapted to address the widest possible range of applications.To do this, you need to consider the possibility of a rather simple construction of profile modifications on the basis of the basic scheme.First you need a passenger vehicle (in this embodiment, it can accommodate 32 people).On the needs of the armed forces and do not forget, the Ministry of Defence - the customer convenient and reliable.The national economy will also need to replace the Mi-8, therefore, cargo modification is also needed.MOE handy helicopter ambulance.And then - time will tell.
In all cases, the machine need simple, reliable and convenient means of loading and rigging.All these features of the Mi-38 helicopter.Photos cargo cabin forethought affects the location of all sites intended for this purpose.Cargo ramp has a width of 1800 mm, it is equipped with a lifting mechanism with remote hydraulic control.The opening side cargo doors mounted winch is a universal high (300 kg) load capacity and movement inside the cabin facilitated by a removable roller tracks.
Soon!
expected to start regular operation of the Mi-38, apparently left for long.The first production model has already been laid on the stocks of the Kazan helicopter plant, to be followed by others.In a few years, and the characteristic silhouette of the machine will be familiar to all.Will the Mi-38's as much as the 8th?Will they have the same well-known all over the world?Time will tell.
