The Mil Mi-38 has set a new world altitude record for helicopters in its class at the 14th Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) helicopter championships, says airframer Russian Helicopters.
The Mi-38 reached an altitude of 28,200ft (8,600m) which is a new world record for helicopters in the 10,000kg to 20,000kg (22,030lb to 44,050lb) weight class. The previous record was 27,880ft.
Test pilots from the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant at Drakino airbase near Moscow flew the Mi-38. The type was designed to replace the Mi-8 and Mi-17, with production expected to start in 2015, Russian Helicopters says.
Production aircraft have the option of being fitted with either Russian Klimov TV7-117V engines or Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127/TS turboshafts.
Source: Flight International
