Pilot – June 2018

pilotweb.aero | Pilot June 2018 | 27

Rotorheads

German sailplane manufacturer DG Flugzeugbau

has been commissioned by Volocopter GmbH

to build ‘a large number’ of Volocopter 2X

electric-powered ‘multicopter’ VTOL craft,

which it says will be the first such to go into

serial production. The Volocopter 2X can fly

autonomously or ‘be easily operated using a

joystick’, says the company, and it has also been

certified for manned operation. Volocopter flew

an unmanned 2X in Dubai last year in what the

company described as the ‘first-ever public flight

of an autonomous urban air taxi’. It is studying

the feasibility and safety of Volocopters serving

as ‘flying taxis’ for public transportation.

Russian Helicopters will
manufacture the prototype
VR-Technologies VRT500 light
utility helicopter prototype by
the end of 2019. Rotor system
strength tests are underway and
aerodynamic testing will begin
soon. The manufacturer says
that the five-passenger craft
will offer the most spacious
transport and cargo cabin in its
class, and will be equipped with
a state-of-the art glass cockpit.
Provisional specifications
include maximum takeoff
weight of 1,600kg, 700kg
payload, maximum speed
230km/h and maximum range
1,000km. It will be offered
in passenger, utility, cargo,
training, VIP and medevac
configurations.

“This helicopter combines

high flight performance and

a great price and operating

costs, in addition to its spacious

cabin, the largest in its class,”

says Alexander Okhonko, VR-

Technologies’ Director General.

“These characteristics will allow

the VRT500 to occupy up to

15% of the global market for

civil helicopters. We expect to

produce and sell (about) 700

helicopters by 2030. About 30%

would be for Latin America and

the Caribbean, and about 15%

would be sent to North America,

the Asia-Pacific region, Europe,

Russia and CIS.”

Meanwhile, VR-Technologies’

design bureau has begun bench

tests of the main systems and

assemblies for its VRT300

unmanned helicopter, the

prototype of which is expected

to fly by year’s end. “This

prototype, which will have

an MTOW of 300kg, will

be used as a flying test-bed

for all of the UAV’s systems

and equipment, as well as

for testing of its interaction

with payload elements and

ground-based monitor and

control equipment,” Okhonko

reports. “To date, we have

defined configuration and

technical requirements for

this helicopter... If everything

goes as planned, by the end

of this year we will start flight

tests. Technical solutions will

ensure the level of failure-

free operation, reliability and

safety that is required for the

operation in the international

market of civil UAVs’’

The VRT300 is being

developed in two versions:

Arctic Supervision, equipped

with a sideways-looking radar

for ice reconnaissance missions,

and Opticvision, with increased

range for airborne monitoring

and remote sensing missions.

In Arctic configuration the

sideways-looking high-

resolution radar provides

prompt assessment of ice sheet

dynamics, and the craft could

also be used to transport food

and medical supplies, while

Opticvision missions could

include powerline inspection,

aerial mapping, cargo

transportation, exploration and

environmental monitoring.

New manned and unmanned rotorcraft from Russia

Volocopter in production

Volocoptor 2X's first public flight in Dubai in 2017

Model VR-Technologies VRT500

VR-Technologies unmanned VRT300 prototype should fly by end of 2018

Airbus Helicopters and Schiebel have tested
Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)
capabilities between an H145 helicopter
and a CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS. The
two craft jointly flew different scenarios
including detection of objects hidden
in places not accessible by traditional
helicopters. The S-100 was controlled and
piloted by an operator flying in the H145
and from a ground-based control station

to simulate the return of the manned

helicopter for refuelling.

“MUM-T multiplies the capabilities of

both systems,” explained Mark R Henning,

Programme Manager at Airbus Helicopters.

“Smaller UAS with vertical take-off and

landing capabilities can, for example,

fly around (such) obstacles as trees or

buildings closer than a helicopter could.

They are able to explore unknown territory

and deliver information to the helicopter

crew which is operating from a safe

position and which can then step in with

the helicopter’s superior effects, having

received a clear picture from the UAS.

“Our airborne MUM-T management

system will become a highly attractive

feature for our entire product range including

the NH90, NFH and Tiger, together with

the H145, as it adds an extremely valuable

operational capability. The MUM-T capability

can be implemented in any kind of helicopter

and can interact with all types of unmanned

systems, in particular Airbus Helicopters’

new VSR 700 UAS. The next step will be to

optimise the human-machine interface.”

Airbus and Schiebel

launch manned/

unmanned trials

MUM-T test for Airbus and Siebel