The average multi-purpose helicopter Mi-38 was successfully tested in conditions of extreme temperatures and high mountains. The car made dozens of flights in Astrakhan and in the area of ​​Elbrus, the press service of the holding company "Helicopters of Russia" reports.

“According to their results, the Mi-38 proved its ability to fly at altitudes up to 3 thousand meters above sea level. In addition, the helicopter made a series of 50 flights, during which the possibility of piloting and navigation was evaluated in the absence of visual visibility of landmarks and the horizon, ”the holding’s website says.

As the head of Russian Helicopters Andrei Boginsky said earlier in an interview with RT, the Mi-38 occupies a unique niche between the Mi-26 and Mi-8. According to him, the car is necessary for customers, "who need a carrying capacity more than the Mi-8, but less than the Mi-26."

“The Mi-38 helicopter can be operated both for the transportation of goods and passengers. At the end of 2015, a basic certificate was obtained for the transport version, which allowed us to conclude contracts with operators, ”said Boginsky.

  • Mi-38 helicopter hull in the Kazan Helicopter Workshop
  • RIA News
  • © Maxim Bogodvid

The mass of the Mi-38 is 8.3 tons, cruising speed - 280-290 km / h, flight range - about 900 km, practical ceiling - 5.9 km, crew - two people. In the transport cabin, the Mi-38 is capable of carrying up to 5 tons of cargo, while on the external sling it can carry up to 6 tons.

“The Mi-38 can be operated in a wide range of climatic conditions, including marine, tropical and cold climates. Thanks to the technical solutions used, the Mi-38 surpasses other helicopters of its class in terms of carrying capacity, passenger capacity and basic flight performance, ”the materials of the Russian Helicopters say.

World Record Holder

The Mi-38 began to be developed by specialists of the Moscow Helicopter Plant (MVZ) in the 1980s to partially replace the legendary Mi-8, the most popular rotary-winged car in the world (a total of about 12 thousand units were produced, which are operated in about 100 countries) . As the Russian Helicopters note, the Mi-38 is a deeply modernized version of the Mi-8.

“Despite the fact that the Mi-8 was created in the 1960s, it is still an indispensable workhorse in dozens of countries around the world. It is widely used both in the civilian sector and in the military. This is an extremely reliable and unpretentious car. It is not surprising that the Mi-8 became the technological basis for the creation of new helicopter technology, ”said Dmitry Dyakonov, chief designer of KB-602 at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), in an interview with RT.

In the USSR, great hopes were placed on the Mi-38. In 1989, the helicopter project was presented at the international aviation exhibition at Le Bourget. However, the fate of the car was very dramatic. The work on the project was adversely affected by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the crisis of the 1990s. The first flight of the prototype Mi-38 was made only on December 22, 2003. Then started the process of finalizing this machine. Operation of the product began only in 2015. The cost center sought to create a helicopter that would be competitive in the domestic and foreign markets. And the designers managed to achieve a lot of success.

Mi-38 is equipped with a spacious and ergonomic cabin. It allows you to comfortably transport passengers, including wounded during search and rescue operations. Depending on the configuration, the helicopter can carry up to 30 people or 16 stretchers. VIP-modification of the Mi-38 is equipped with a cupboard and a bathroom.

Domestic engineers have radically reduced the noise level due to the placement of the power plant for the main gearbox. In addition, a similar layout increased the survivability of the machine, especially during an emergency landing.

Also, in order to improve the safety of the Mi-38, the designers took care of strengthening the propeller blades. They are made of light but durable materials (in particular, of glass-carbon plastic) and are equipped with an anti-icing system.

Major changes were made to the helicopter’s onboard electronic equipment. Mi-38 is equipped with modern avionics, including autopilot and navigation and aerobatic complex. All information about the state of the car and the route is displayed on liquid crystal displays.

  • Mi-38 at the airport
  • © Russian Helicopters

Initially, the helicopter planned to install the North American power unit Pratt & Whitney PW-127T / S. However, progress in the domestic engine industry allowed the developer to equip the rotary-wing machine with a modernized, economical installation of TV7-117V Klimov JSC (St. Petersburg).

“A special feature of the development of engines of the TV7-117V family is to ensure the safety of the helicopter in extreme situations by introducing emergency modes with a capacity of 2800-3750 hp. The engine is equipped with a new digital electronic control and monitoring system such as FADEC, created on the basis of a single automatic control and monitoring unit, ”the developer’s website says.

Mi-38 is the owner of several world records. In August 2012, test pilots of the cost centers overcame the altitude bar of 8.6 km. In September of the same year, the helicopter crew lifted a commercial cargo weighing 1 ton to an altitude of 8 km in 6 minutes.

“Despite the protracted development, the Mi-38 took into account all the requirements for a modern multi-purpose helicopter. Without a doubt, this car can be called new. Its promotion on the market will strengthen Russia's status as a leading helicopter power, one of the world leaders in the field of freight traffic, ”said Dmitry Drozdenko, RT columnist for Arsenal of Fatherland.

"Made from new materials"

The Mi-38 will be produced both for civilian needs and for the order of the Aerospace Forces. The vehicle will be delivered to the troops in a transport modification. In May 2019, Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko announced that a new air control center would be created on the basis of the helicopter.

In the RT comment, Major General, Honored Pilot of the Russian Federation Vladimir Popov emphasized that the Mi-38 will be in great demand during landing and sabotage operations. In addition, the machine has the characteristics to perform missions in high altitude conditions.

  • Mi-38-2 at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017 in Zhukovsky
  • RIA News
  • © Maxim Blinov

“In the army, this vehicle is especially in demand when it is required to deliver a group of servicemen in the amount of 20-30 people with weapons and special equipment. For such operational tasks, the Mi-8 is not suitable, and the use of heavy Mi-26 seems redundant. Operation of the Mi-38 will allow to carry out such operations effectively and in the time set by the command. It is also possible that in the future, the Mi-38 could become a platform for creating an air hospital in the army units of the Air Force, ”explained Popov.

Meanwhile, Russian Helicopters are counting on the machine’s export success. At the end of March 2019, the helicopter was presented at the international exhibition LIMA-2019 in Malaysia. According to the holding, the closest competitor to the Mi-38 in the overseas market is the French Airbus Helicopters H225, which has a similar carrying capacity.

“Technologically, the Mi-38 is made of new materials. And the helicopter's engines for fuel efficiency are 15-25% better than their counterparts on the Mi-8. The capabilities of the machine allow you to use it for a variety of tasks. These are freight and passenger traffic, the elimination of natural and man-made disasters. In my opinion, the car will be in demand in India, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil and other countries familiar with the Mi-8, ”said Popov.