New composite helicopter blades make debut at Army 2020
Rostec company Russian Helicopters used the first day of the Army 2020 show near Moscow on 23-29 August to display new fully composite rotor blades, which are designed to increase the maximum speed of Mi-28 and Mi-35M combat helicopters.
The blades (manufactured with one-stage compression moulding) possesses modern aerodynamic characteristics and elastic composition.
According to Russian Helicopters, the blades have already been tested as part of the flying laboratory of a new high-speed helicopter concept based on the Mi-24. During these tests, the helicopter reached a speed of more than 400km/h ‘without the need to change the base helicopter design’, the company added.
‘At the same time, we managed to maintain low vibration and load levels, which speaks of the high potential of this design,’ said Andrey Boginsky, general director of Russian Helicopters.
The new rotor blades are now undergoing factory flight tests on an Mi-28N helicopter.
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