I visited Kazan Helicopters plant in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia last week.
These guys manufactured in the past over 11,000 Mi-8's and other transport
helicopters for Warsaw Pact armies.  Now, they are developing and
manufacturing new helo designs for mostly civilian applications.  It was
interesting to say the least.  Sorry I cannot show pictures, security was
still soviet-style...

There has been a thread on this newsletter, a few months back, about the
Russian-made rotary engines.  Well, the news is that the manufacturer,
Avtovaz, has dropped the program entirely, both for automotive as well as
for aviation applications.  I was privileged to see one VAZ-4265 3-rotor
270HP engine installed in the new Kazan light-helicopter development, the
Aktai (see www.kazanhelicopters.com/eng/helicopters/aktai).  Interesting...
(sorry again I cannot share pictures and must restrain myself on comments).

Hopefully, the Aktai should fly next summer with a H- version of Mistral's
G-300!  ;-)

Francois   http://www.mistral-engines.com/


That is spectacular news. The Russians are no dummies.
They know a good thing when they see it.
That should break the helicopter engine market wide open.
Huge improvement in the payload to range
ratio not to mention much lower cost than a turbine.
Perhaps Frank Robinson will wake up.

The link above did not work but these work.

http://www.exportbureau.com/transport/helicopters.html
http://www.airshow.ru/expo/614/index.htm
http://www.airshow.ru/expo/614/prod_474.htm

This is just the tip of the iceberg. A turbo would greatly
improve the specs. Particularly the altitude performance.
Not mention an all aluminum rotary or a four rotor.

Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

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