Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has successfully flown the first Japanese-built prototype BK117 C-2 medium-twin-turbine helicopter at its Gifu plant.
First flight was on 15 March, for about 1h, says Masato Furusawa, KHI's senior manager of helicopter project engineering. The prototype hovered and demonstrated forward, reverse and sideways flight and basic manoeuvres, at speeds below 60kt (110km/h).
Furusawa says KHI and its European partner, Eurocopter, are aiming for German and Japanese certification by the end of the year. A German prototype, called the EC145 by Eurocopter, has completed more than 200h of flight testing at Donauwörth since its first flight last June.
Furusawa reveals that the new helicopter - which has an increased 3,500kg (7,700lb) maximum take-off weight compared with earlier BK117s - features a new main rotor with supercritical-section aerofoil to increase lift and reduce drag. The rotor blades also have a tapered planform, compared with earlier types' rectangular shape, and parabolic blade tips, reducing drag further, as well as cutting noise and vibration (Flight International, 14-20 March).
Like the current production-standard BK117 C-1, the C-2 is powered by twin Turboméca Arriel 1E2 turboshafts. The helicopter has an enlarged cabin, however, and offers a payload of 1,700kg compared with the C-1's 1,590kg. It is also 5kt faster than its predecessor, at a maximum 145kt.
Source: Flight International
