Russian Helicopters begins certification tests on Mi-38

Russian Helicopters (part of State Corporation Rostec) has launched the final stage of certification testing on the Mi-38 multi-role helicopter. Testing is being carried out on two prototype models of the helicopter fitted with Russian TV7-117V engines.

On November 3, 2014, Russian Helicopters’ Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant received the fourth prototype of the Mi-38 in order to continue certification flight-testing. The helicopter is built at Kazan Helicopters, also a Russian Helicopters company. On October 20, 2014, it successfully completed a series of hover tests and low-speed ground runs, after which it was transported overland to the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant.

For further flight-tests, the fourth Mi-38 prototype will be fitted with the full suite of onboard data acquisition systems. Starting flight tests on the forth prototype boosts progress towards the Mi-38’s certification— which is scheduled for 2015.