MOSCOW, November 15 (AVN) - Flight tests of the new MI-38 helicopter are to be held in late 2001, Alexander Samusenko, acting constructor general of the Moscow-based Mil helicopter plant, told the Military News Agency on Wednesday.
MI-38 is supposed to replace MI-8 Hip helicopters. It is a joint project of the Mil plant and France's Eurocopter firm, Samusenko said. This greatest Russian-European aviation programme is added to the works co-ordinarted by the Russian-French intergovernmental committee on R&D co-operation.
The project will be a success, stressed Samusenko. The main problem now is the engine for the helicopter, he said. The first prototype wiil be fitted with the PW127 engine, which is produced in the United States by Pratt&Whitney consortium.
The airframe will be built by the Kazan helicopter plant. "Everything goes as planned here," said Samusenko.