All Helicopters articles – Page 214
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News
Heli Expo hosts revamped S-55 Whisper Jet and S-61N Short
New versions of two older helicopters, Vertical Aviation Technologies' S-55QT Whisper Jet and Helipro International's Offshore S-61 Short, were displayed for the first time at the show. Certification of both conversions is imminent. Florida-based Vertical Aviation has completed flight testing of a five-blade rotor on its turbine conversion of ...
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Bell to decide on major facelift for 412
Bell expects to decide soon whether to launch an improved Model 412Plus helicopter in partnership with Agusta, while at the same time committing to a North American final assembly line for the all new Italian-led AB139 development. The Fort Worth-based company is considering a major design revamp of ...
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PDG Helicopters plans for expansion
PDG Helicopters plans to expand its international on-shore operations following a £1.6 million ($2.6 million) investment from the Scottish Clydesdale Bank. The Inverness, Scotland-based company specialises in utility pipeline patrol, forestry, aerial photography and fish farming - for which it also recently set-up "the first foreign base" in Chile, ...
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Demand for civil helicopters 'robust'
Two engine manufacturers are forecasting continued robust demand for civil helicopters despite concerns over some operating sectors. AlliedSignal Aerospace is projecting deliveries of 2,350 new turbine-powered helicopters over five years from 1999 to 2003, while Rolls-Royce (formerly Allison) has produced a broadly similar forecast for 5,410 civil deliveries over ...
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Eurocopter gets a grip on Australasia
Eurocopter International Pacific (EIP), has announced the approval in Australia and New Zealand of its AS350B3, EC120 and EC135 helicopters. The first AS350B3 was delivered to New Zealand in October last year, and a further four are scheduled for handover in 1999. Deliveries to the region of the EC120 ...
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Twin tune-up
Paul Lewis/FORT WORTH Bell's new Model 427 is in development flight testing. The eight-seat, light twin turbine has gained weight, hover, speed and range since its maiden flight in December 1997, but the manufacturer aims to reduce the weight by May Bell is fine-tuning the performance of its ...
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Four crew die in S African crash
A Mil Mi-8MTV helicopter crashed into the roof of an office block in central Cape Town, South Africa, on 10 February, killing its four crew. The helicopter, operated by Heyns Helicopters of Nelspruit, was carrying an underslung load - an air conditioning unit - to a nearby building when its ...
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Bell sets deadline for tiltrotor workshare
Paul Lewis/FORT WORTH Bell Helicopter and Agusta hope to finalise a manufacturing workshare agreement within 12 months to co-produce the new BA609 civil tiltrotor and AB139 medium helicopter in the USA and Europe. The two companies are establishing a joint venture structure, following their tie- up announced at ...
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AAG purchase edges Sikorsky towards fractional ownership
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Sikorsky has taken a step towards launching a helicopter fractional ownership programme by agreeing to acquire New York-based charter operator Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) for an undisclosed sum. The company will become a subsidiary of Sikorsky. The US manufacturer refuses to speculate on when it ...
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Dutch company buys Boeing civil helicopter production line
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Boeing has sold the former McDonnell Douglas (MDC) civil helicopter production line to Dutch holding company MD Helicopters, nearly two years after it snapped up the Mesa, California-based manufacturer in its merger with MDC. The deal is expected to be finalised and signed by 15 February, ...
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India reveals light helicopter project
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has unveiled details of a study for a light observation helicopter (LOH) design under way for the Indian forces. The 3t-class aircraft, which will have a maximum payload of 1,500kg (3,300lb) and a design ceiling of around 19,000ft (5,800m), will be in a similar class to the ...
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Agusta will certificate Koala - a year late
Agusta is planning to certificate its single engined A119 Koala in May, nearly a year later than originally scheduled. The Italian manufacturer blames the delay on its efforts to incorporate design changes to the aircraft, in response to customer demands. The design of the seven-seat Koala, which was originally ...
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Era expands tourist business activities
Era Aviation is expanding its helicopter sightseeing operation with a multimillion dollar order for five Eurocopter AS350B2 Astars. Era's executive vice-president, Richard "Lash" Larew says: "This deal brings our B2 fleet to 26, making us not only the largest commercial operator of this aircraft in the USA, but also ...
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Canadian company on target to deliver single-engined GA jet
Alberta Aerospace is on target to become the first manufacturer to certificate and deliver a single-engined general aviation jet. The Canadian company says its two-seat Phoenix Fan Jet will be in full service "by the end of the year", closely followed by a four-seater. "We are now 10 months ...
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Sikorsky S-92A Helibus completes maiden flight
Flight testing of the Sikorsky S-92A Helibus medium helicopter began on 23 December. With its maiden flight successfully concluded, attention has now switched to a final decision by the company on a production go-ahead later this year. The first General Electric CT7-6D-powered prototype S-92 made its inaugural flight from ...
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Helicopter deliveries predicted to rise over next 10 years
More than 8,000 helicopters worth over $19 billion will be delivered over the next 10 years, according to a study by US-based market analyst Forecast International/ DMS. In its report The World Commercial Rotorcraft Market 1998-2007, Forecast predicts that, in terms of unit production, the market will be led ...
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France and Germany to merge research
The French Government research agency Onera and its German counterpart, the DLR, are to integrate their helicopter research activities in a move they say will provide a prototype for a "unique European aeronautics and space research organisation". The two have co-operated since 1992 on helicopter research in support of ...
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More Australian sales beckon for Exec 162F
RotorWay International is hoping to boost sales of its Exec 162F in Australia following approval of the kit-built helicopter by the country's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Approval of the Exec 162F in Australia, under rules that are more restrictive than the experimental category regulations applied in the USA, ...
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UK EC-120 delivery
McAlpine Helicopters has delivered the first UK registered Eurocopter EC-120 Colibri to an unnamed private customer. The Oxford Airport-based distributor plans to take delivery of three single-engine Colibri's in 1999 and "four in 2000." The high demand for the five-seat, $795,000 light helicopter prompted Eurocopter to step-up production from four ...
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Heli contract
Helicopter Service has won a NOK250 million ($33 million) five-year contract from Saga Petroleum to provide support on the Norwegian continental shelf. The new contract will use one Sikorsky S-61N based at Floroe and two Eurocopter Super Pumas, based at Stavanger. Source: Flight International