The Mil Company Entering Into The Next Century

Some problems and aspects of helicopters and their technology that either have been implemented in individual projects or are advanced and will be further developed in the nearest fiture are discussed. Retrofitting the main rotor systems by replacing the old blades incorporating metal spars by all-glassfiber ones having the latest aerodynamic configurations is a thing of top priority for us now. The advantages of the processes used in manufacturing composite spars by winding that are widely spread in Russia are described. The design approach to the problem of the vibration level that is applied at the early stages of helicopter development resulting in obtaining the airtkune frequency response different from the main rotor excitation harmonics is presented. The vision of the prospects for helicopter rotor drive system technology is also highlighted. A system of full-scale airframe tests for all basic flight loading conditions specified in both our and foreign airworthiness standards is discussed. A separate section is devoted to helicopter flight safety and our approach to selecting parameters for such a system is dwelled upon.