Flight Testing of CIS Helicopters: An American Perspective

This paper presents dimensional and non-dimensional flight test data obtained as a result of several years of government flight testing of Mi-17 helicopters, which were manufactured in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The unique challenge of generating installed engine shaft horsepower available and power required data without direct measurement of torque or horsepower is addressed. Use of engine pressure ratio (EPR) is presented as an alternative method of engine power measurement. Verification of performance data is presented. Presentations of limited flying qualities data are compared against U.S. standards. The difficulty of comparing CIS aircraft to U.S. standards is addressed by presenting data that meets CIS standards but not U.S.