New helicopters, premier of a Turbomeca engine, new avionics for the future high-speed helicopter from KRET: here's the best news from Moscow's show

This year, the HeliRussia exhibition gathered 212 companies from 20 countries of the world, providing services in the sphere of production, development and operation of helicopters, helicopter technology and air and ground-based equipment. 165 of them were Russian and 47 from abroad (in 2013, there were 40 foreign companies). On an area of 13,850 square meters, there were 21 Russian and foreign helicopters. In just three days, the exhibition was attended by more than 10,000 people, and there were more than 40 events in the framework of the business program. More than 350 representatives of the Russian and foreign mass media were accredited at the exhibition. 

HELICOPTERS

The traditionally rich exhibition was presented by the general sponsor of the HeliRussia exhibition: Russian Helicopters. Like last year, the show stopper of the exhibition was a military helicopter. This time, it was MI-28NE, exhibited in front of the pavilion entrance, equipped to carry out combat missions day and night in all weather conditions. The fully armored cab of this helicopter is capable of withstanding a direct hit by 23 mm caliber ammunition. Next to it, visitors could see the Mi-38, which recently set the world record for rate of climb. At the exhibition, the visitors were able to acquaint themselves with another novelty of the Russian manufacturers: a light multipurpose Ansat helicopter. This time, the model was presented in the medical version. 

The general sponsor of the exhibition, Airbus Helicopters (former Eurocopter), presented an AS350 light model helicopter. The distinguishing feature of this helicopter is that it is the only foreign-made model in Russia that domestic companies have chosen for implementation of the full range of works, including monitoring of pipelines, load suspension, geophysical research and transport of passengers. 

Russian Helicopters and AugustaWestland showed customers a twin-engine AW139 multi-purpose VIP version helicopter produced by the joint venture in Russia. To date, more than 190 operators from nearly 60 countries have placed orders for approximately 720 of helicopters of this type. 

American manufacturers were represented by helicopter companies MD (MD-520), Bell (Bell-429 and Bell-407JX), as well as the entire series of helicopters manufactured by Robinson (R-22, R-44 and gas turbine R-66).

ENGINES

One of the expected premiers on display was the new engine of the Turbomeca RTM 322 family, with a capacity of 3000 HP. Currently, the engine type is installed on helicopters of the NH 90 family, AW101 and AH-64D. Taking into consideration the close cooperation of the manufacturer with Russian helicopter specialists, as well as lessons learned from engines manufactured by Turbomeca, this type of engine can be expected to increase in the near future on Russian existing and prospective helicopter models. 

Russian United Engine Building Corporation in turn presented the VK-800V and VK-2500 family of engines, and fuel equipment to significantly reduce the cost of maintaining the airworthiness of helicopters.