Russian Helicopters demonstrates Ansat with new control system

Russian Helicopters, part of United Industrial Corporation Oboronprom, a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters and producer of some of the world's most iconic, innovative and widely operated models, announces that Kazan Helicopters has successfully completed the first demonstration flight of the multi-role civil Ansat helicopter with a hydro-mechanical flight control system.

To date Kazan Helicopters has produced two prototypes of the new Ansat for aerial and ground-based testing. The testing programme has been on-going since 2011, and has produced positive results. Kazan Helicopters has filed an application with the Interstate Aviation Committee's Air Registry for additional type-certification to install the hydro-mechanical flight control system. This will make possible further work on gaining certification for passenger flights.

Russian Helicopters is currently marketing the civilian version of the helicopter with the new flight-control system. There has been interest from potential Russian and international buyers. Sector experts say that the modernised Ansat has a number of competitive edges over other helicopters in its class. Russian Helicopters plans to sell the new Ansat in its traditional markets across the CIS, South-East Asia, Africa, Central and South America.

The company previously developed a version of the Ansat unmatched in its class and featuring a fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system. Yet this innovative development threw up an unexpected obstacle, as no FBW civilian helicopter had been certificated before and no standard requirements existed.

"To avoid being dependent on certification of the FBW Ansat we decided to offer the global market a helicopter with a traditional hydro-mechanical flight control system," Kazan Helicopters General Director Vadim Ligay said. "We hope to obtain certification for this version of the helicopter in the second half of 2012."

The FBW Ansat will continue development for the military. Russia's Defence Ministry purchases the Ansat-U training helicopter for its flight training schools. The latest batch was delivered to the Air Force Training Centre in Syzran in 2011.

Work is continuing in Kazan on building numerous versions of the Ansat helicopter, including modernisation of the basic model with significant upgrades to its aeronautical, economy and usage characteristics.