General Director of the United Engine Corporation (UEC, part of Rostec) Vadim Badekha said that the Russian TV7-117ST-01 aircraft engine has received improved characteristics.
“The TV7-117ST-01 engine is powerful, reliable and easy to maintain. UEC designers have done a lot of work to improve the performance characteristics of power plants of the TV7-117 family. UEC is increasing its production capacity, and we are ready to begin serial deliveries of TV7-117ST-01 to meet the aviation industry’s need for domestic engines,” the press service of the state corporation quotes Badeja.
According to Rostec, TV7-117ST-01 is superior in its characteristics to its foreign analogues. The improved engine has increased power during takeoff and has a new AB112-114 propeller capable of generating 4 tons of thrust.
"Stability and controllability"
TV7-117ST-01 was developed by specialists from UEC-Klimov (St. Petersburg) for the regional passenger aircraft Il-114-300. On March 31, UEC and Rostec announced the resumption of flight tests of this aircraft.
“The United Aircraft Corporation resumed the Il-114-300 flight test program, within the framework of which the second prototype aircraft made its first flight from the airfield of the branch of PJSC UAC - LAZ named after. P.A. Voronin,” says the UEC website.
Takeoff of the second experimental aircraft Il-114-300
© Rostec
The flight of the Il-114-300 lasted 40 minutes and took place at altitudes of up to 900 m and at speeds of up to 230 km/h. The aircraft was piloted by a crew consisting of the aircraft commander, chief pilot, 1st class test flight engineer Oleg Gryazev, and Honored Test Pilots of the Russian Federation Sergei Sukhar and Igor Zinov.
“During the tests, the stability and controllability of the aircraft was checked, as well as the stable operation of Russian systems and equipment, most of which were manufactured by enterprises of the Rostec state corporation. The crew commander reported that the flight went smoothly, the systems and equipment worked properly, the flight program was completed in full,” the UEC noted.
Managing Director of Il PJSC Daniil Brenerman called the resumption of the flight test program an important step towards the creation of the Il-114-300.
“We are connecting the second experimental machine to flights... We all have hard work ahead of us. The aircraft is being created for operation, including in difficult climatic conditions. We will have to confirm the reliability and performance of all systems, including in harsh climates,” Brenerman said.
As the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Dmitry Yadrov said in turn, Russia needs its own regional aircraft. Their appearance will make it possible to increase the intensity of air traffic in Russia by one and a half times by 2030.
The maximum capacity of the Il-114-300 is 68 seats. On airlines it will replace the Soviet An-24. The new aircraft is capable of operating autonomously from relatively small airfields with both concrete and dirt surfaces.
According to the state corporation, the Il-114-300 will become “an indispensable winged “bus” for remote areas of the North, Far East and Siberia.” The aircraft will also be adapted for flights in Arctic regions.
“The new regional IL-114-300 has improved flight performance, increased the use of composite materials, and installed a new digital flight navigation system. Almost all the main systems on the aircraft have been improved, special attention was paid to improving the ergonomics of the cockpit,” says Rostec materials.
The flight range of the Il-114-300 at full load will be 1.4 thousand km, the maximum take-off weight will be 23.5 tons, and the cruising speed will be up to 500 km/h.
TV7-117ST-01 on the test bench "ODK-Klimov"
© Rostec
In addition to the TV7-117ST-01, the aircraft received a new auxiliary power unit TA 14-114, “which will ensure the aircraft’s autonomy during maintenance and preparation for flight at poorly equipped airfields.”
As Roman Gusarov, editor-in-chief of the Avia.ru portal, emphasized in a conversation with RT, TV7-117ST-01 is one of the most important elements of the Il-114-300. The expert noted that after modifications the engine received increased power during takeoff.
“From open information it follows that TV7-117ST-01 has higher power at takeoff - 3.1 thousand hp. It also features a FADEC digital control system and is said to have best-in-class fuel efficiency. A lot depends on this engine. Because our country will need at least several dozen Il-114-300s in the near future,” Gusarov explained.
"Technological Challenge"
According to experts, the program to create the TV7-117ST-01 modification is of great importance for the development of the domestic aviation industry. This power unit is required for the promising turboprop passenger regional aircraft TVRS-44 “Ladoga” with 44 seats. The vehicle is being developed by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA) by order of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.
According to Rostec, the power of the TV7-117ST-02 at takeoff will be 2.4 thousand hp. with automatic increase to 2.6 thousand hp. The engine will be equipped with a new alternating current electric generator with a higher rotation speed, electric start instead of air and an updated automatic control and control unit (BARC).
“Unlike the base engine, the power plant for the Ladoga will receive a closed oil system with an oil cooler installed directly on the engine, which will make it possible not to drain the oil when replacing the engine. In addition, the capacity of the oil tank will increase to ensure continuous operation of the engine - 16 hours instead of 12,” reports the Rostec website.
In total, seven TV7-117ST-02 units should be transferred to industry for flight testing of the Ladoga. As Roman Gusarov stated, the new power unit expects a fairly long test cycle. However, investments in the power unit project for TVRS-44 are fully justified.
The prototype of the Ladoga is the Czechoslovakian L-610 aircraft. In the basic version, the aircraft will be designed to transport 44 people or up to 5 tons of cargo. According to Rostec, the practical flight range of TVRS-44 with passengers will be 2.2 thousand km, with cargo - 1.2 thousand km, maximum take-off weight - 17.5 tons, cruising speed - 460-480 km/h .
According to Rostec, Ladoga is needed to replace the fleet of Soviet An-24, An-26B-100, Yak-40 aircraft and Western aircraft Dash 8-200, Dash 8Q-300, ATR-42.
As RT was told last year by the UWCA press service, the TVRS-44 will become unpretentious and can be used throughout the Russian Federation, including on asphalt and concrete airfields, as well as on dirt and snow strips.
Model of the TVRS-44 "Ladoga" aircraft
© Ural Civil Aviation Plant
TVRS-44 will receive an all-metal prefabricated riveted airframe structure. Composite materials will be used to make flaps, nose cone, fuselage tips and some other elements.
As the chief designer of the project, Sergei Merenkov, previously said in an interview with the industry agency Aviaport, TVRS-44 will actually be a new aircraft.
“In fact, it turned out to be a 100% redesign of the prototype (L-610. -
RT
), that is, the creation of a new aircraft. The equipment, materials and fasteners are one hundred percent new and completely domestic. The fuselage is new, including the entire theory, cross-section, nose and tail sections, the contours of the cockpit canopy, the entire structural and power diagram, the entire layout and hinge of the wing and empennage,” Merenkov said.
According to Roman Gusarov, “Ladoga” with TV7-117ST-02 is extremely necessary for Russian regions, especially the Arctic, Siberia, and the Far East, where there is often no land connection between populated areas.
“I think that everyone in Russia understands perfectly well that without aviation our gigantic country will not be able to provide normal communications between many regions and populated areas. In addition, one cannot expect imports from the West. Therefore, serious resources are invested in aircraft and engine projects. It's a difficult job. Not everything is going smoothly, but I am sure that it will be brought to large-scale serial production of the necessary aircraft,” Gusarov emphasized.
The head of the Aviator.ru project, Sergei Martirosyan, shares a similar point of view. In a conversation with RT, he suggested that the test cycle of regional aircraft and their engines will be completed in the next two to three years.
“Il-114-300 and Ladoga must pass all necessary certifications with domestic engines. After this, their mass production will be launched. This is a big technological challenge for Russia, but the competencies of our aircraft manufacturers and engine-building school allow us to create equipment that is well adapted to difficult natural and climatic conditions,” Martirosyan concluded.