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General
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The
Mil Mi-38, being developed by the Moscow Helicopter
Plant, is intended to replace the large in-service
fleet of Mi-8/Mi-17 medium helicopters, and to
take over some of the tasks which are now carried
out by aging Mil Mi-6s. In close collaboration
with Mil Design Bureau and Eurocopter, "Kazan
Helicopters" continues development and production
of Mi-38 helicopter prototype. The Mi-38 helicopter
meets FAR-29 requirements and European JAR-29,
category A and B. The engine of the helicopter
has been developed by Pratt-Whitney/Rus and is
being designed to meet the requirements of European
JAR-E Regulations. The helicopter is intended
for day and night operation, under any weather
conditions in a range of temperatures from - 60C
up to + 50C. In December 2010, OP-2, the second
prototype of the new Mi-38 helicopter built by
Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant JSC and Kazan Helicopters
JSC, the subsidiaries of the Russian Helicopters
holding company, has achieved its first flight.
The test program that was started is proceeding
well according to Kazan Helicopters specialists:
the helicopter has already completed 26 ground
runups and 7 hover and low speed flights over
the runway. On December 2010, the No.2 prototype
of the new civil medium-class passenger/transport
Mi-38 helicopter accomplished the first long-haul
flight. Mi-38 took off in Kazan, where the manufacturer,
Kazan Helicopters, is situated. It covered over
800 km and arrived in Moscow to continue testing
program at Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, designer
of this rotorcraft.
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Variants
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VIP version: for transporting of 12 passengers
over range up to 700 km;
- Transport version: for carrying
of 30 passengers over range up to 450 km, transportation
up to 5 tons inside the helicopter over range of
up to 400 km, transporting loads up to 7 tons on
an external cargo sling, transporting combined passenger
and cargo loads;
- Medevac version: for evacuation
up to 16 wounded on stretchers.
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Armament |
The
first prototype of Mi-38 were not designed
to transport armament, but as substitute
of Mi-8 and Mi-17, have can suppose that
the same weapons systems can be mounted
of this helicopter. |
Design |
The
Mi-38 is the helicopter of the classic single-rotor
design with six- bladed main rotor, four-bladed
X-shaped tail rotor and all-movable stabilizer.
Its aerodynamic design enables to minimize
the harmful air resistance of the fuselage.
The fuselage structure includes three-layer
panels and composite parts. The main and
tail rotor blades are of glass-fibber materials.
Their lifetime is practically unlimited.
The flight tests proved high aerodynamic
performance. The main rotor hub with elastomeric
bearings requires no maintenance. The tail
rotor design is similar to the one tried-and-true
of Mi-28 helicopter. When developing the
units and systems the designers paid special
attention to maintainability. To compare
with Mi-8 helicopter, the labour intensity
of maintenance has been reduced more than
twice. The life assigned to the structure
of the units and systems exceeds 4-6 times
the one of the similar elements of Mi-8/Mi-17
helicopters. The cabin can be configured
for passenger or VIP transport, cargo or
mixed cargo and passenger transport, air
ambulance and emergency evacuation, surveillance
and other missions. There is a portside
ramp door for passengers. As a passenger
transport the cabin can seat 30 passengers.
In the ambulance version, the Mi-38 can
accommodate 16 stretchers.
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Engine |
The
Mi-38 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney
Canada / Russia PW127TS turboshaft engines,
rated at 2,500hp (1,864kW), fitted with
FADEC (full authority digital engine control).
The twin engines are installed above the
main cabin.
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Features |
The Mi-38 is equipped with a cargo sling
and can carry external loads up to 7t and
internal payloads to 5t with a cargo area
of 29.5m³. For cargo transport the
helicopter is equipped with a television
camera and display for monitoring the loading
of cargo and the slung loads. Sensors can
be fitted for checking the weight of slung
loads and the weight and weight distribution
of cargo loaded internally. The
hatch in the cabin floor allows tactical
cargo airdrop from the cabin. The hatch
can be replaced with windows and surveillance
cameras and other sensor systems for surveillance
missions.
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Specifications |
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Type |
Transport
helicopter |
Producer
country |
Russia |
Country
users |
Second
prototype |
Crew |
2
+ 30 people |
Powerplant |
2
x PW-127T/S |
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Weight |
15,600
kg takeoff |
Speed |
285
km/h |
Range |
885
km |
Range |
600
km |
Dimensions |
Length,
8,7 m; Width, 2,3 m; Height,
1,8 m |
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Pictures
/ Video |
Back
to menu |
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Video
Flight test of Russian Mi-38 OP-2 prototype transport
helicopter
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