Kamov Ka-62 To Fly Next Year

Russian Helicopters unveiled a full-size mockup of the reworked Kamov Ka-62 medium twin at the HeliRussia 2012 show in Moscow in May.

“Designers have worked particularly hard to reduce the helicopter’s environmental footprint and increase its operational cost-efficiency,” said Dmitry Petrov, CEO of Russian Helicopters. The development version of the Ka-62 is powered by two 1,680-shp Turbomeca Ardiden 3G turboshafts with dual-channel Fadecs. Its tail rotor is shrouded. Composite materials are used for more than 50 percent of the five-blade main rotor and the airframe. St. Petersburg-based Transas Avionics is supplying the avionics suite.

First flight is scheduled for August next year, followed by certification by the Interstate Aviation Committee and first deliveries in 2015. Russian Helicopters also plans to pursue EASA certification of the Ka-62. The helicopter will be produced at the Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company in Russia’s Far East.

At the same show, Turbomeca exhibited a mockup of the Ardiden 3G. Time between overhaul at entry into service will be 5,000 flight hours and is planned to grow to 6,400 flight hours “at maturity.” Turbomeca says fuel burn will be “better than 10 percent lower than that of other engines in the same power class.” Engine certification is expected in 2014.