Rostec launches mass production of the latest civilian helicopter Mi-38. Kazan Helicopters of Russian Helicopters Holding received a manufacturer's certificate from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation). The first machine will be delivered to the customer before the end of this year.

Multipurpose Mi-38 will occupy an empty niche between the medium Mi-8 and heavy Mi-26. Thanks to the technical solutions used, the helicopter surpasses other machines of its class in terms of carrying capacity, passenger capacity and basic flight performance. With a maximum take-off weight of 15.6 tons, the helicopter is capable of taking 5 tons of payload on board or on an external sling. Passenger Mi-38 can take on board up to 30 people.

"Mi-38 is a universal helicopter that can be used to transport passengers, cargo, for search and rescue and medical work. Today in the UAE we are introducing it for the first time on the foreign market and discuss the prospects of exporting the Mi-38. I am sure that high technical the characteristics and competitive price will ensure interest in the helicopter among our partners from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. The first machine will be delivered to the domestic customer, this will happen before the end of the year, "said Director General of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov .

The helicopter flight range in the transport configuration with additional fuel tanks is up to 1000 kilometers. Mi-38 is equipped with new engines of domestic production, emergency fuel system, additional support on the chassis for landing on soft soil and snow.

"This year, the Kazan Helicopter Plant manufactured the first civilian Mi-38 with a luxury cabin, which these days takes part in the Dubai Airshow international airshow. The obtained certificate of the Federal Air Transport Agency confirms that KVZ is ready for serial deliveries of this type of helicopters for both commercial operators and and for government customers, "said Yuri Pustovgarov, Managing Director of Kazan Helicopter Plant .

The Mi-38 design has a number of innovations: improved aerodynamic contours of the fuselage and the fairing of the power plant, protection of the rotor hub and the swashplate. Instead of the traditional placement of engines in front of the main gearbox, for the first time in domestic helicopter construction, a scheme with their "rear" arrangement was implemented. This allowed to reduce aerodynamic drag and noise level in the cab, as well as increase the safety of the machine.