The fifth international exhibition HeliRussia was held in Moscow in mid-May. This salon of the helicopter industry is not yet the same massive and well-known event as MAKS, but over the years it has clearly moved forward. More than two hundred companies from 17 countries of the world presented their products in the pavilion of the Crocus Expo exhibition center. It should be noted that three quarters of the participating firms are domestic. From 17 to 19 May, two dozen conferences, round tables and other similar events were held at the HeliRussia-2012 salon. As you can see, the "digital" appearance of the exhibition looks good for the salon, which is being held only for the fifth time and has not yet managed to gain the corresponding popularity and fame. However, even such relatively small salons are worth your attention. Let's consider some of the results of the exhibition held in Moscow.
First of all, it is worth noting some of the features of the exhibition itself. So far, it cannot compete with the recognized flagships in the field of air shows, but at the same time, there is a noticeable increase in the number of participants. Another "confrontation" of the nuances of HeliRussia concerns technical innovations. Most companies, primarily foreign ones, do not specifically prepare for the Moscow event and are not in a hurry to present radically new technologies and developments at it, as is done at more famous and large-scale exhibitions. On the other hand, the helicopter industry salon in Moscow is useful for small and promising firms: they can demonstrate their achievements and find potential customers without special expenses. In addition, large organizations can show themselves in the best light at HeliRussia. Considering the confident and systematic expansion of foreign manufacturers of rotary-wing aircraft into the Russian market, unnecessary advertising for helicopters of the Mi, Ka, etc. brands. obviously won't hurt.
So far, the advertising techniques of domestic helicopter manufacturers are losing to the campaigns of foreign competitors. As the journalist Y. Vasiliev justly notes, import firms gently and unobtrusively "press" on potential customers, promoting one simple idea. Their advertising policy is based on the thesis “you can get what you want right now”. At the same time, they not only offer their products, but also treat customer initiatives with due respect. In fact, a completely obvious approach to business turns out to be only the future of the domestic industry. It just so happened that it takes years to form an image that will affect the number of contracts and, as a result, income. European or American helicopter builders have already used them with good name. Russian manufacturers have yet to create a positive image. And this will have to be done in conditions of rather tough competition. Hopefully, the regular showrooms in Moscow will benefit Russian firms. But the benefits of the exhibitions will not only be for our helicopter manufacturers. For example, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation took part in HeliRussia for the second time this year. Only to this day, Sikorsky has managed to show models and distribute advertising materials. Full-size models, not to mention full-fledged helicopters, have not yet been brought to Moscow. However, even in such an “abbreviated program” it is not difficult to see the method of promoting one's products. Americans are simply creating a good image for their helicopters. When the prospects for Sikorsky helicopters in Russia become clear, something more than small plastic models should be expected.
Our helicopter industry, judging by the visible things, prefers to interest potential buyers in new projects. Last year, before the MAKS-2011 showroom, the Mi-34S1 helicopter was such a "sensation" to attract attention. This deep modernization of the multipurpose helicopter, created more than twenty years ago, was proposed as a modern transport, passenger, etc. aircraft. At the MAKS-2011 exhibition, this helicopter was quite popular among visitors, but at HeliRussia-2012 almost no one talked about it. The fact is that at the May event, domestic helicopter builders made another fresh development, the Ka-62, the highlight of the program. The main features of this multipurpose vehicle lie in the efficient French-made Turbomeca Ardiden 3G engines, in a comfortable voluminous cockpit and in the new avionics with a domestic glass cockpit. The declared characteristics of the Ka-62 helicopter are not, in principle, something record-breaking, but in their totality it is a solid machine of its class. The only complaint that can be made against her is lack of knowledge. The start of serial production of the Ka-62 is planned only for 2015, and such helicopters are needed now.
In general, domestic helicopters are quite capable of competing with foreign ones. The results of the activities of Russian Helicopters over the past year only confirm this. However, the Russian helicopter industry faces many challenges. The main one concerns engines. Unfortunately, so far, domestic engine builders cannot cover all the needs of aircraft factories. Therefore, Russian companies have to cooperate with foreign ones. The main supplier of imported engines is the Zaporozhye company Motor Sich. On this occasion, last year Motor Sich and Russian Helicopters agreed on deliveries for the next five years. According to the contract, Zaporozhye engine builders will annually supply at least 270 turboshaft engines. However, Motor Sich cannot meet all the needs of the Russian helicopter industry. Therefore, it is often proposed to equip new Russian helicopters with European and American engines. So, no one is surprised by the motors of the French company Turbomeca and the American Pratt & Whitteney installed on Russian helicopters. It must be admitted that the much older aircraft market in these countries has had a beneficial effect on the potential of these firms. Therefore, in the absence of domestic products of the required class, one has to be content with foreign ones. At the same time, the use of imported engines to some extent improves the prospects for Russian helicopters on the international market.
"Ansat" - Kazan helicopter plant
A few words about the lack of the necessary engines. OJSC Klimov has been developing a new VK-800V turboshaft engine for more than five years. However, at present this engine, according to the official website of "Klimov", is only "planned to be installed on helicopters ANSAT, Ka-226, Ka-126, Mi-54, etc." In the meantime, the 500-800 horsepower motor-building sector remains without modern domestic developments. But in the field of more solid capacities, there are new motors, even if they are an upgrade of existing ones. At HeliRussia-2012, a new version of the Mi-8 re-equipment was presented. This time it is proposed to bring the Mi-8T to the Mi-8MSB version. The basis of the update is the replacement of the old TV2-117 motors with TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-4E. According to the published data, the new engine has more power and lower fuel consumption. For operators, replacing the engine means increasing the static ceiling to 3,100 meters and the dynamic ceiling to 5,000. In addition, due to lower fuel consumption, the two new engines allow the Mi-8MSB helicopter to fly not 780, but 820 kilometers at one refueling (with one additional tank).
Mi-28N
The HeliRussia-2012 exhibition once again proved a well-known fact for a long time. Currently, there is a significant bias in the Russian helicopter industry towards medium and heavy machines. The light sector, in turn, is almost empty. Because of this, overseas companies have a wonderful opportunity to promote their products and make money. Therefore, the industry leadership needs to pay attention to the creation of light rotorcraft. Of course, other sectors will be sufficient not only for the survival of the industry, but also for its further development. However, one cannot but admit the fact that it is necessary to participate in the market in all its directions. And the wide distribution in Russia of the same "Robinsons" is a direct proof of this. The domestic consumer needs equipment of this class, but its large-scale production is not yet available. Hopefully, at HeliRussia-2013 not only layouts of new domestic machines with good market prospects will be presented. In the end, I would like to see not only ready-made helicopters, as they say, in metal and plastic, but also signed contracts for their supply.
Mi-8 AMT
Bell-407 Bell Helicopter
Robinson R-66
RuMas-10
Enstrom 480
