The lightest helicopter. Light Russian helicopters. Light helicopters of the world. The lightest multi-purpose helicopter

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Heavy combat helicopters are designed to transport people, weapons and their use. They have serious armor, high speed. But they are not suitable for civilian purposes: they are too large, expensive and difficult to manage and operate. Even during the Cold War, foreign manufacturers began to create light helicopters, in Russia this business went with some lag.

Development of light helicopters in Russia

Domestic companies are inferior to foreigners in the field of light helicopters. But Russian Helicopters does not agree with this position and is taking active steps to change it. The Ka-226 military light helicopter, which was developed for India, has been converted into a civilian one, and the first orders for the Ka-226T have already been completed. The takeoff weight of such a machine is 3600 kg. Gazpromavia ordered 18 vehicles to patrol the gas network. They requested a separate modification of the Ka-226TG for flights in difficultclimatic conditions of the regions of the Far North. Ka-226TG can fly in the dark and in fog, has an additional fuel tank, which increases the flight range without refueling.

In Tomilino there is a plant with a capacity of up to 20 cars per year. Set to release the AW139, a 6.4 ton passenger-carrying helicopter. In the future, it is planned to supply such helicopters throughout Russia and the CIS countries.

Also, Russian Helicopters continues active cooperation with AgustaWestland, which contributes to the development of the helicopter industry. Light helicopters of the world will not be left without the Russian flag in their ranks.

Ansat

Partnership with foreign companies is good, but I would like to have my own light Russian helicopters. One of them is "Ansat" (translated from Tatar as "simple"). This is a light multi-purpose helicopter designed and assembled at OJSC Kazan Helicopter Plant.

The first Ansat was launched in 1999. Despite the name, the history of its development is not so simple. This is the first helicopter in Russia equipped with an electric remote control system. After being released into the series, the car was delivered to the Ministry of Defense and to South Korea, it was there that the accident occurred, which led to the death of the pilot. The cause was recognized as EDSU. After that, the designers carried out work to improve this system, a civilian version was released with a hydromechanical control system - Ansat-1M. The police and forest services continue to use the Ansat for their needs. And forKorea, a special modification of Ansat-K was released, that is, Korean.

The helicopter has two turboshaft engines and a maximum takeoff weight of 3.3 tons, with a dead weight of 1-1.3 tons, and can carry 9 people. To facilitate the design, modern technologies and materials, including composite ones, were used. Despite all the difficulties, by 2018 the Ministry of Defense plans to purchase up to 40 of these helicopters with an average cost of 101.4 million rubles.

However, there is not only a military, but also a passenger, transport, administrative version, for rescuers, doctors and training flights. This is a full-fledged light multi-purpose helicopter.

Berkut

In recent years, among the suppliers of light helicopters, the American company "Robinson Helicopter" has been leading, but the domestic company "Berkut Aero" LLC is going to move the leader with its brainchild. Due to the use of modern technologies and materials, other design solutions, the Berkut light multi-purpose helicopter is 2 times cheaper than foreign analogues. The plant in Togliatti has the capacity to produce 15 helicopters per month.

It comes in two trim levels with different 147 hp engines. and 150 hp, has two rotors. This solution allows to reduce the diameter of the propellers and the overall length of the machine due to the absence of a tail propeller. Although the coaxial helicopter is easier to control and more resistant to bad weather, its center of gravity is shifted upwards and the height of the machine is increased.

The flight range of the Russian"Berkut VL" is 600, and "Berkut VL-M" - 850 km. Takes off at a speed of 5.8-6.2 m/s. The flight ceiling of the machine is 3000 m. The mass of an empty helicopter is below half a ton (this is the lightest helicopter in Russia), and the developed speed is up to 170 km/h. It can be used for both civilian and rescue purposes and for patrolling the territories.

Helicopter for extreme entertainment

There are helicopters that seem to be created only for entertainment. These are the lightest helicopters in the world. This is exactly the idea that the creators of AirScooter II had. This is the lightest single-seat helicopter made of high-strength materials.

They tried to make it as simple and clear as possible to manage. It has two coaxial screws that spin in different directions and are responsible for lifting and maneuvering. Instead of a chassis or skids, two floats are used, which allow you to make a safe landing on the water and on the ground.

Specially for AirScooter II the four-stroke engine was developed. To the right of the pilot is a fuel tank of 18.9 liters, which allows you to fly up to 2 hours at 15 meters above the ground. Despite the fact that this helicopter was created for extreme sports, it can be used to deliver express mail, patrol and surveillance, and will also be of interest to hunters.

The lightest helicopter

It is worth mentioning the Japanese GEN-H-4. This is a civilian helicopter that made its first flight back in 2000. Has the most simple design and management. In design solutions, a coaxial screw scheme was used,which are started by four small engines. According to the creators, according to the instructions, you can assemble it yourself in half an hour.

This flying baby has a modest but sufficient performance for its size. Its carrying capacity is only 86 kg, the official height ceiling is 3000 m. Although it is simply scary to climb it to such a height. A person weighing 79 kg will be able to fly on it for about an hour at a speed of 88 km / h, then refueling will be required. The design itself weighs 70 kg - this is the lightest helicopter!

The GEN-H-4 is jokingly referred to as the "flying stool". It is essentially a chair with wheels, to which four two-stroke engines are attached and 4-meter blades on top. All engines operate autonomously from each other, and failure of all at once is unlikely. This lightest helicopter can hold on to three, and land on two. A parachute is included just in case.

Helicopter for the price of a car

In our age of high technology, there is an idea to create a flying vehicle that will cost no more than a car, and training on it will be simple. So far, only two devices have approached this line. The American AirScooter costs $50,000, and the lightest Japanese GEN-H-4 helicopter costs $30,000, and you can train a pilot in a few days.