PHOTO: the 2nd Mil Mi-38 prototype flew for the 1st time

[Stratofreighter]

Russian Helicopters image

http://www.key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=28 ... on=general

Second Mi-38 flies

A second Mi-38 helicopter has flown.

Gary Parsons - 2-Dec-2010


December 2: The second prototype of the Mi-38 helicopter designed and built by Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant JSC and Kazan Helicopters JSC flew for the first time today.

The medium-sized multi-role cargo and transport Mi-38 is designed for passenger transport (including VIP flights), cargo, search and rescue, offshore and medical evacuation operations.

OP-2 follows the first prototype, OP-1, but has been modified with upgraded hydraulic and fuel systems and new rotor blades
and is equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 127/TS engines and a modern Tranzas IBKV-38 avionics suite with glass cockpit.

A third prototype will follow before mass production is started in 2013.

[amarx]

Looks like a Russian Merlin.

[phkza]

I was going to say the same thing. Russians (and Chinese for that matter) are known as copycats, but mostly in civil aviation (Tu-154, Tu-214, Il-96, Sukhoi Superjet to name a few). But looking at military aircraft I always thought the Russians offered quite some excellent own products. This helo was clearly 'inspired' by the Merlin. Although it looks as if the Merlin had a baby with a Mi-8; looks a bit old...

[Stratofreighter]

Indeed the Mil Mi-38 is supposed to be a Mil Mi-8 / Mi-17 replacement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_Mi-38 .

Another update: http://en.rian.ru/business/20101202/161591094.html

Mi-38 helicopter production to begin in 2013

14:08 02/12/2010

Russian Helicopters will start production of its new Mi-38 utility transport helicopter in 2013, after resolving engine supply problems with Canadian supplier Pratt & Whitney Canada, Russian state-owned rotorcraft builder Russian Helicopters said on Thursday.

Russian Helicopters'spokesman Roman Kirillov said all problems with Pratt & Whitney have been resolved.

"The company plans to equip the helicopters with both Russian and Canadian engines.

We see it as an additional advantage for our buyers.
Partners in Russia and the CIS states traditionally opt for Russian-made engines, while partners worldwide may prefer Canadian," he said.

The Mi-38 program has been repeatedly delayed.

Russian Helicopters' Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant said last year that production of the new-generation helicopter would begin no earlier than in 2014, as Pratt & Whitney Canada, initially chosen as the preferred engine supplier, was planning to pull out of the project.

Their reluctance to supply the engines was due to a U.S. embargo on sales of dual-purpose equipment to Russia.

The second Mi-38 helicopter prototype has Pratt & Whitney's PW 127/TS engines, but can also be equipped with Russian-made TV7-117V engines.

It is also fitted with modified main rotor blades and a new Tranzas "glass cockpit" avionics system.

The helicopter is currently being tested and will later undergo a full flight test cycle.

"The helicopter has already completed 26 ground runups and seven hover and low speed flights over the runway," Russian Helicopters said.

A third prototype is currently being assembled at the Kazan Helicopter Plant in Tatarstan.

The twin-engine Mi-38 can accommodating up to 30 passengers, or carry a payload of five tons, and can be used for civilian and military purposes.

MOSCOW, December 2 (RIA Novosti)