By Vovick Karnozov
AWN Moscow-based columnist

Sikorsky has contracted the Mil Helicopter Plant of Moscow (MVZ) and Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute to improve the S-76 helicopter. The respective agreement was reached some time ago, but was not then announced to the public. By now the sides have reached an understanding on details of the deal and practical work on the project has begun.

Steve Malone, vice president with Sikorsky, told AWN that a modified aircraft will be called S-76R (R for Russia). It will have improved flight performance, a more "tough" airframe construction and a reduced unit price. Malone said that the main reason for Sikorsky to embark on this $150 million cooperative effort with Russian enterprises was to use the cheap Russian labor, as well as a rich experience amassed by the Russians in helicopter technologies.

The S-76R will have new rotor blades with fully composite blades made of carbon graphite. Currently, Sikorsky uses hand lay up of composites in making blades for the rotors. In manufacturing blades for the S-76R, Russian technologies will be used, featuring winding of composites before heat treatment in autoclaves. The first S-76R helicopters are to be delivered to customers in 2002. Answering why so much time is needed to make the S-76 available on the market, Eugene Chelombitko, project manager with Sikorsky, said that the new blades will feature new aerodynamics for higher efficiency, which requires intensive studies.

Tooling for manufacture of the new blades will be provided by VPK MAPO, which acts as a Mil's subcontractor. Production of blades will be set up in Russia from western materials. Use of Russian materials is not acceptable, Malone said, because they have not been yet certified to US requirements. In the case the S-76 finds customers in Russia, Sikorsky is ready to set up production of this helicopter locally in cooperation with Mil. Currently, Russia does not have indigenous helicopters in the S-76 class with the exception of the Kamov Ka-60, which is undergoing initial flight trials.

Malone believes that using Russian blades and other improvements based on high Russian technologies will allow them to increase the payload capability of the S-76 by 400 lb. This will allow the US helicopter to compete more effectively with Eurocopter models. Sikorsky believes that the use of Russian technologies will allow the S-76 to remain highly competitive on the market in the next century. So far, nearly 500 such helicopters have been sold worldwide. List prices for VIP version is $8 million, while 12-seat passenger variant costs $6.7-$7 million.