HeliWhale plans $120k 2-seat ultralight helo

[Ian Corrigible]

Meet Afalina: Russian manufacturer reveals the world’s cheapest helicopter (http://rt.com/news/266872-afalina-helicopter-cheapest-russia/)

http://cdn.rt.com/files/news/41/27/80/00/2.si.jpg

The coaxial rotor and Rotax powerplant combination is reminiscent of the previous Rotor International RI 30 Eaglet (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/295371-interesting-2-seat-coaial-helicopter.html) design, though the tandem cockpit configuration is new and the claimed max speed 80 km/h higher.

I/C

[ATPMBA]

So with cheap helicopter one can afford an expensive coffin.

[riff_raff]

"They’ll be supplied to customers as kit-sets models for self-assembly in order to keep the price low, the developer said."

So it's a $120K kit aircraft. Type certification would more than double the proposed price and take a couple years to complete. Even though they claim a GTOW well under 1300lbs, neither the EASA or FAA LSA regs currently allow helicopters.

You can already get a comparable product from outfits like Rotorway for far less (<$80K), which benefit from having most of the design bugs worked out.

[whoknows idont]

Also when you buy a Rotorway you are far less affected by what funny new adventures uncle Wladimir thinks of next. You might already have to get real creative to buy a helicopter from russia right now...
On another note, a Rotorway requires almost similar amounts of dauntless bravery to fly with... :\

[Peter-RB]

Certain types of heli R---n no longer float my boat, despite learning and passing on one, this Russian design looks really smooth, but... what is it made from, and how much strength is there in that huge single roof light, come the day of a bit of a hard landing, will the nose meet the forehead..?.

Despite huge reservations on KIT built helis, it is a really Super Smooth looker, if the Roosians can come up with a good shape,.. why not Frankie or any other small maker.?
PRB
Lancashire