At Airshow China 2018, China General Aviation Service reaffirmed its intention to procure a batch of Mi-171A2 helicopters manufactured at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (U-UAZ) in Russia. Russian Helicopters company is planning to manufacture six rotorcraft and deliver them to the customer by 2022, company’s webpage reported.
“For the first time, we are ready to start mass production of Mi-171A2 for a foreign customer. This contract shall enhance trust of potential operators in our new helicopter which is a great step in the Mi-8/17 family evolution embodying advanced technical solutions for improving comfort, safety and flight performance of this rotorcraft. Currently, Mi-171A2 is undergoing certification in China to be finalized next year,” Andrey Boginsky, Russian Helicopters CEO, noted.
Mi-171A2 multi-purpose helicopter is one of the much awaited new products of the Russian rotorcraft industry, and a major upgrade of the Mi-8/17 family. The helicopter is equipped with VK-2500PS-03 engines (a civil version of engines installed at Mi-28 combat helicopters) with a digital control system. Compared to Mi-8/17 helicopters, Mi-171A2 has a new rotor system, it features a more effective X-shaped tail rotor and a new main rotor with all-composite blades of an improved aerodynamic configuration. Therefore the thrust of the Mi-171A2 main rotor has increased by more than 700 kg, which has a positive impact on flight performance.
In August 2017, Mi-171A2 was awarded a Category A certificate by Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency thus meeting the most stringent requirements to civilian helicopters flight safety. In January 2018, Mi-171A2 successfully proved its ability to operate in severe climatic conditions at ambient temperatures as low as -50°C.