Mi-171A2 to be unveiled this summer

Russian Helicopters may unveil the first Mil Mi-171A2 prototype at the MAKS 2013 air show outside Moscow in August. The airframe, referred to as OP-1, is currently under construction at the Ulan-Ude aviation factory. The Mi-171A2 is the latest iteration of the popular Mi-8/17 medium helicopter family.

The new aircraft’s rotor system is being tested on a dedicated flying testbed. Russian Helicopter reports good progress with the tests: vibration has been considerably reduced and the design maximum speed of 300 km/h has already been achieved. Thanks to the use of advanced composite materials in the rotor system, the trials demonstrated a 700-kg increase in the main rotor thrust.

The Mi-171A2 is derived from the Mi-171A1 design, which is currently in production at Ulan-Ude and has been certified in Russia and Brazil. The new helicopter’s range without auxiliary fuel tanks is expected to be 850 km compared to the Mi-171A1’s 610 km. External payload capacity will be increased by 1,000 kg to 5,000 kg.
Certification work is already underway and should be completed in late 2014. The Mi-171A2 is expected to go into series production in 2015. Russian Helicopters is believed to have received several preliminary contracts for the model from commercial operators; deliveries should begin in 2015 or 2016.  
Maxim Pyadushkin