Mi-38 helicopter approaching certification

On October 16, Russian Helicopters successfully con­ducted the first flight of the Mil Mi-38 medium helicopter’s pre-production prototype. The 10-minute flight took place at the Kazan Helicopters facility, and the prototype was later sent to Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant to be readied for the certification trials.

The helicopter’s certification is expected to be attained in 2015. Kazan Helicopters CEO Vadim Ligay stated earlier this year that his facility had already started production of the fuselages for the first production rotorcraft. The Mi-38 development program was launched in the early 1980s. The aircraft was initially planned as a replacement for the Mi-8/17 medium-lift family of helicopters. Now this 15,600-kg MTOW machine will fill the empty niche between the upgraded Mi-8/17 and the giant Mi-26 transport. With a cruising speed of 285 km/h, it will be able to carry up to 30 passengers, or 6,000 kg of cargo inside the cabin, or 7,000 kg on the external sling. According to Russian Helicopters, the first orders for this type may come from government customers.