Mil Mi-60 MAI
| Mi-60 MAI | |
|---|---|
| Role | Light utility helicopterTemplate:Short description |
| National origin | Russia |
| Manufacturer | Mil |
| Designer | Marat Nikolayevich Tishchenko[1][2] |
| Status | Unrealised project |
The Mil Mi-60 MAI (Cyrillic: Миль Ми-60 МАИ) was a joint project between Mil and the Moscow Aviation Institute to develop a light utility helicopter.[3] A mockup was displayed at the MAKS 2001 air show,[2][3][4] where Russian aerospace journal Aviatsiya i Kosmonavtika (Авиация и космонавтика; "Aviation and Space") described it as a "little brother" to the Mil Mi-34.[5]
The Mi-60 MAI was intended to fulfil a range of general aviation activities, including pilot training, agricultural work, police and firefighting duties, resource monitoring, aerial photography, and tourism.[2] Domestic demand in Russia for such an aircraft was estimated at around 400–600 units.[2] No Russian manufacturer was producing a lightweight helicopter such as this, and foreign aircraft were unsuitable for Russian conditions.[6]
The design was further presented at the 1997 International Aviation Forum in Moscow, and the World Salon of Inventions in Brussels the same year.[7] It won a gold medal at the latter event.[7]
Design
The Mi-60 MAI was a conventional design for a light helicopter, with a pod-and-boom fuselage, a three-bladed main rotor, two-bladed tail rotor, and a skid undercarriage with rear wheels on each skid.[3][4][2] The pilot and a single passenger were to sit side-by-side in an extensively-glazed, enclosed cabin with dual controls.[1]
At different stages of development, a variety of powerplants were proposed, including:
- one Script error: No such module "convert". Lycoming O-320-B2C piston engine[1][4]
- one Script error: No such module "convert". Aviadvigatel D-150 wankel engine[1][4]
- one Script error: No such module "convert". Textron Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD piston engine[3]
- one Script error: No such module "convert". VAZ-426 wankel engine[3]
- two Script error: No such module "convert". Rotax 914F piston engines.[3][4]
- two Script error: No such module "convert". LOM M332A piston engines[3]
These were to be located inside the fuselage, behind the cabin, with power transmitted to the rotor through V-belts.[1] In the twin-engine versions, the engines were to be located side-by-side.[1][4] One criterion for engine selection was favouring engines that could run on automotive-grade petrol.[2][6] This would allow the aircraft to operate in regions with less well-developed infrastructure.[8] The twin-engine variants were expected to be able to continue to fly on only one engine.[7]
Construction was to make extensive use of composite materials.[6]
Development
Initial funding for the project came from the Russian Ministry of Education.[3] Development started in 1993 and technical work was finished the following year.[3] In 1997, the Russian Army became a sponsor, hoping to use the Mi-60 MAI as a helicopter trainer.[3]
Construction of a mockup commenced at the Kazan helicopter factory in 2000.[3] It was displayed the following year at the MAKS air show, and production was planned to start the same year.[3] Production would have taken place at the Rostvertol factory in Rostov-on-Don[4] As of 1998, an estimated $30 million was still required to put the aircraft into production.[7]
Development work on the program ended in 2001,[2] although it was still included in the Russian federal aviation plan for 2002–10.[3] As of 2013, no examples had been constructed.[4]
Specifications (as designed, with VAZ engine)
Notes
References
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Bibliography
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External links
- Moscow Aviation Institute description of the project
- Moscow Aviation Institute press release about international recognition of the design
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