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Hi everyone!

 

here is a brief information about the helicopter that we have developed and now we are trying to promote it on US market. Please give your comments on what you like/dislike about it and what could be the major obstacles when entering the US market with this aircraft.

 

Please find pictures in attachment.

 

 

General Characteristics

 

Crew persons 1-2

 

Engine EJ-25 “Subaru”

 

Takeoff power h.p./kWatt 156/115

 

Hour charge of fuel l/h 28-35

 

Geometrical Characteristics

 

Length with rotating screws m 8,09

 

Diameter НВ m 6,84

 

Height m 2,22

 

Base of the chassis m 1,6

 

Weight

 

Weight of empty helicopter Kg 380

 

Maximum Takeoff Weight Kg 650

 

Take-off weight with one crew member Kg 530

 

Standard stock of fuel Kg/l 60/72

 

Basic Flight Characteristics

 

Max speed of horizontal flight at the ground km/h 186

 

Cruiser speed of flight at the ground km/h 160

 

Static ceiling not considering the influence of close of ground m 1800

 

Practical ceiling m 3000

 

Maximal speed of rise m/s 9,2

 

Practical range ability km 320

 

Duration of flight (height 100-500 m) h 2

 

Max allowable speed of a wind at rise and landing m/s 15

 

Price: 150,000 USD

 

Made in Ukraine

 

 

The helicopter AK1-3 is a lightweight helicopter conforming to Airworthiness Regulations (FAR, Part 27) for normal category rotorcraft and international noise abatement regulations. The helicopter is certificated under State Administration of Ukraine for Aviation Safety Oversight and bears a Type Certificate Number ТП 0008.

 

The weight of the empty helicopter is 390 kg that allows to transport it on a small trailer for the car. Simultaneously the trailer is a mobile landing strip for the helicopter.

 

All comments are highly appreciated!

 

Andriy Rukas

Phone: +38-097-345-0019, e-mail: rukas84@yahoo.com

Comm_offer.pdf

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Thanks for the info Andriy-

 

A very nice looking helicopter that has performance similar to an R-22 at a much lower price. Looks like an updated version of the Hughes 269 (which is not a criticism). I've been keeping a eye on the AK1-3 on the internet for a few years now and would love to see it make it across the ocean. We're sort of stubborn over here though, so to get U.S. buyers interested you're going to have to covert your specs into American style units. For example:

 

Weight of empty helicopter Kg 380 = Empty Wt. 860 pounds

 

Maximum Takeoff Weight Kg 650 = Max. Gross Wt. 1433 pounds

 

Take-off weight with one crew member Kg 530 = 1168 pounds

 

Standard stock of fuel Kg/l 60/72 = fuel capacity 19 gallons

 

 

Max speed of horizontal flight at the ground km/h 186 = Max airspeed at Sea Level: 100 Knots

 

Cruiser speed of flight at the ground km/h 160 = Normal cruise at Sea Level: 86 Knots

 

Static ceiling not considering the influence of close of ground m 1800 = Hover Out of Ground Effect ceiling: 5900 ft.

 

Practical ceiling m 3000 = 9840 ft. (not sure what "practical ceiling means...)

 

Maximal speed of rise m/s 9,2 = Max rate of climb at Sea Level: 1800 ft./min.

 

Practical range ability km 320 = 170 Nautical Miles

 

Duration of flight (height 100-500 m) h 2 = endurance: 2 hours

 

Max allowable speed of a wind at rise and landing m/s 15 = Max wind for take-off or landing: 29 Knots

 

 

Price: 150,000 USD = a very attractive price that doesn't need any translation.

 

HOWEVER,

 

Unless you can get the FAA to grant this ship a standard category airworthiness certificate, it's going to have a very limited market in the U.S. I don't know what kind of reciprocal agreements the FAA and the State Administration of Ukraine for Aviation Safety Oversight might have, but with a Subaru (that is an uncertified for aviation use) engine I expect it's going to be a tough battle to get this ship certified in the U.S. Which is too bad, because it looks like it could give the R-22 some badly needed competition.

 

The other alternative is the homebuilt market with an amateur-built Experimental airworthiness certificate. I notice in the Commercial Offer that the helicopter is available as a kit. Now you're competing with Rotorway and Safari homebuilts. What would be the cost of the kit (delivered from Ukraine to the U.S.)?

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http://www.aerokopter.co.za/SAFlyer-flight...t-2nd-visit.doc

 

The South African importers

http://www.aerokopter.co.za/

The above is the best site to get a over view from.

http://www.aerokopter.co.za/Technical-Deta...cifications.htm

 

Been following this for some time looks a well built machine, some solid engineering if death star house in UK was at all receptive would be interested in importing.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks, helicodger pilot, we'll convert our specs to locally accepted measurement units. The FAA certification is a case of a days to come due to all that paperwork. That is why so far we sell this helicopter as a "very easy to build" kit. In our case, saying kit we mean that this helicopter was assembled, flight tested, and only after it is approved according to general and factory standards - it is disassembled and shipped to a buyer.

 

Thanks, 500E, for following our machine. The AK-1-3 can be imported to the UK as a kit.

 

Thanks, West Coaster, for your appreciation!

 

Thanks, tiercel, when we were choosing the engine for the aircraft we considered all the ones that you mentioned. However, we decided to have the EJ 25 due to its reliability and stability of performance in a helicopter. Also this engine is easy to maintain and can be operated for 1000 flight hours between scheduled repairs. We've sold a number of helicopters to South Africa (Capetown area) - you know it is located pretty much on a high plateau so its performance on high altitudes is also OK. Besides we do a lot of test flights in Carpathians (west of Ukraine) and Crimean Mountains (South of Crimean Peninsula, also in Ukraine). Special thanks for your idea about a bigger fuel tank! I will definitely forward it to our engineers!

 

Best Regards,

Andriy Rukas rukas84@yahoo.com

 

Here are some pictures of inside:

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