Italy’s Curti Aerospace has successfully tested a ballistic parachute on its new Zefhir two-seat turbine helicopter from an aerodynamic pod mounted atop the main rotor mast. During the test, which was made above the Oristano-Fenosu airport at an altitude of 984 feet agl and a forward speed of 30 knots, the parachute was deployed during a simulated engine failure, slowing the descent rate to 14.5 knots.
Curti maintains the descent rate resulted in a ground impact that generated deceleration peaks well within those required for the safeguard of human life as routinely assessed in crash tests by the aeronautic and automotive industries. The tests were assisted by the aerospace faculty of Bologna University and funded by the European Commission, Curti, PBS Velká Bíteš from the Czech Republic, and Junkers Profly from Germany.
Earlier this year, Curti officially launched the Zefhir at Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany. The helicopter features all-composite construction, a 141-shp (derated from a maximum continuous output of 241 shp) PBS TS100 turboshaft engine, a two-blade, teetering main rotor system with a diameter of 24.9 feet, a cruising speed of 87 knots (Vne 102 knots), a maximum range of 172 nm (with 10-minute reserve), and an mtow of 1,540 pounds.