“Create competitive equipment”: how the development of new aircraft piston engines is progressing in Russia

- Andrey Lvovich, research work (R&D) called "Circus" provides for the creation, as well as experimental testing of systems and technologies that will subsequently form the basis of a whole line of aircraft engines designed for sports and training aircraft.

What is the idea behind this project?

And when is the work expected to be completed?

- Training and sports aviation is necessary for setting the initial flight skills, without it it is impossible to further master the technique in small aviation.

It is also used in a separate sports discipline, within which aerobatics competitions are held.

The basis of modern training and sports aviation in Russia is acrobatic aircraft.

As part of their power plants, aircraft piston engines (APDs) are used.

In the USSR in the 50-80s of the last century, many aircraft were created that can be attributed to the acrobatic category.

The most successful projects can be called the development of the design bureau of Alexander Yakovlev (sports and training Yak-52, aerobatic Yak-55) and Pavel Sukhoi Design Bureau (sports aircraft Su-26, Su-31, Su-29).

Until recently, these machines were the basis of Russian training and sports aviation.

Due to a number of economic and technical reasons, the production of piston engines of the M-14 family for these aircraft was stopped (the last serial M-14P was produced about 15 years ago).

To date, the vast majority of the fleet of sports acrobatic aircraft is not in operation due to the lack of engines.

Flight schools and educational organizations of the DOSAAF system were forced to purchase foreign equipment.

• CIAM General Director Andrey Kozlov

• © CIAM press service

To the implementation of the project "Circus" Central Institute of Aviation Motors named after P.I.

Baranova (CIAM, part of the National Research Center "Institute named after N.E. Zhukovsky") started in 2021.

Its main idea is to develop the design and technologies that make it possible to create APD components and parts for the modernization of existing and the creation of new power plants for acrobatic aircraft.

The deadline for completion of work in accordance with the terms of the state contract is the end of 2023.

The research work ends with flight tests of the technology demonstrator engine.

— Who became the customer of these works?

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, and the results of the work can be used to create engines for the remotorization of Yak-52 aircraft located in DOSAAF, and new Yak-152 training machines (equipped with a German RED A03T V12 engine. -

).

-

- The word "commercial" is not quite applicable in this case.

We, as a research institute, carry out work under a government contract, and the resulting scientific and technical groundwork can be used in R&D (experimental design work. - 

) for the development of serial engines.

This is the procedure for creating any high-tech products, including engines: R & D, followed by R&D, then mass production.

If we talk about the APD market, then it is certainly growing, especially in modern realities, when Russia needs its own aircraft.

In aerobatics (demonstration of aerobatics. -

) first of all, training aircraft are in demand, and sports aviation is not far behind.

Commercial structures are also interested.

With the development of airfield infrastructure for small aircraft, the demand for aircraft with the possibility of performing aerobatics is increasing.

- Research is carried out on the basis of the APD-500 piston demonstrator engine.

Why was he chosen as the basis?

- This engine was created by our team in the framework of previous research projects.

It is the most understandable for us, it has been tested in altitude and climatic conditions and on board an experimental aircraft.

And most importantly, it is currently the most powerful domestic piston aircraft engine with characteristics that are not inferior to the best foreign analogues.

We plan to finish its development this year.

As soon as the aviation community learned that CIAM planned to make a Russian piston engine for small aircraft (passenger aircraft up to nine seats, light agricultural vehicles, and so on), since then we have been repeatedly contacted by a variety of organizations, including airlines .

Everyone is interested, asking when it will be ready.

I answer: now he is at the final stage of work "Adaptation-2020".

As part of the research work "Circus", another demonstrator engine is being created - APD-A (acrobatic).

It has significant design differences from the APD-500.

• Domestic training aircraft

• © CIAM press service

- What results are planned to be achieved within the framework of "Circus"?

What qualities should new engines have?

- We plan to conduct a series of ground and flight tests, within which we intend to confirm the requirements stated in the terms of reference for the job.

First of all, this is the ability to perform aerobatics, including in inverted flight conditions.

In addition, the motor must withstand large overloads.

- Is R&D planned for this topic?

- Ideally, any R&D that ends with a positive result should be continued in the form of development work.

Based on the results of the research work, we must prepare the terms of reference for R&D for such engines.

- What, in your opinion, are the shortcomings of the current engines for sports and training aircraft?

— The main disadvantage is their absence.

As I said earlier, most of the M-14 engines have exhausted their resources, they are not mass-produced.

And engines for acrobatics, produced by the American company Lycoming, cannot perform a number of aerobatic maneuvers.

And, of course, in the context of sanctions restrictions, the issue of import substitution becomes especially acute.

- The Yak-52 was chosen as a flying laboratory for the Circus.

Why was such a decision made?

What is the advantage of this aircraft?

- The Yak-52 is primarily a training aircraft.

For us, it is convenient because its functional systems can provide reverse aerobatics, and at the same time it has free space for placing equipment for flight testing of the demonstrator engine.

- What is the significance of "Circus" in the context of the modernization of training aviation of the Russian Federation?

- The development of small aviation will entail an increase in the number of flight personnel and the need for modern training aircraft.

The experience and scientific and technical groundwork obtained as part of the implementation of the Circus research project will help in the shortest possible time to create competitive aviation equipment for the fleet of training and sports aviation in Russia.