Pratt & Whitney Canada has delivered two PW127-based turboshaft engines to Russia's Kazan Helicopters to power the first prototype Mi-38. The much-delayed first flight of the large twin-turbine helicopter has been set for the fourth quarter. The main gearbox, supplied by St Petersburg-based Red October, has been the main cause of delays.
Kazan has begun installing the developmental PW127/5 engines and plans to start ground runs in October. An experimental main gearbox is being tested at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and will be shipped to Kazan next month. Production of the Mi-38, a joint project between Eurocopter, Mil and Kazan, is to start in 2005.
A third PW127/5 is being used by P&WC to develop control software for the PW127T/S engine that will power production Mi-38s. The PW127T/S is being developed bySt Petersburg-based subsidiary Pratt & Whitney-Rus and will have a new interface module for the Russian-made gearbox.
The Mi-38 programme is managed by the Euromil joint venture. Mil handles design and flight testing, Eurocopter is responsible for cockpit design, avionics and customised versions, and Kazan for manufacture. A "Russianised" version is planned, powered by Klimov VK-3000 turboshafts derived from the TV7-117S turboprop powering the Ilyushin Il-114.
Source: Flight International
