Composite Helicopters KC518 Adventourer
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Auckland New Zealand
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Composite Helicopter
Thanks to all who have made comment and asked questions about of new helicopter. Isn't it great!
We are new to pprune forums. A link was provided to us suggesting that as the manufacturer we may like to participate. More than happy to join in the banter and to answer your questions. Cheers Peter
We are new to pprune forums. A link was provided to us suggesting that as the manufacturer we may like to participate. More than happy to join in the banter and to answer your questions. Cheers Peter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Prtoria, South Afica
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Greetings from South Africa !
Hi there Peter, I am very exited about the KC518 and would love to be your official agent in South Afica. Despite the perfect autorotation into the harbour it provided crucial data especially when the main rotor blades slamed into the fuselage. There is one question I would love to be answered and that is if KC518 is fired upon from underneath with an AK47, will the bullet penetrate the fuselage from a hight of about 500 ft ?
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This month's Rotor & Wing provides an update on the KC518 project. Excerpts:
I/C
Despite an emergency autorotation and ditching of its KC518 Adventourer into Auckland Harbor New Zealand in May last year, an incident caused by a deterioration of the aft isolation dampers, founder and director of Composite Helicopters Peter Maloney told Rotor & Wing that aircraft No. 3 is now in the test phase while aircraft No. 4 is currently being assembled. (The second KC518 airframe was built with the express purpose of being used as an exhibit at airshows and aviation gatherings around the world.)
The KC518 kit will come with 20 major components including airframe, cabin floor, internal beams and bulkheads. There are around 22 secondary components that comprise carbon fiber doors and bulk hatches.
According to the company there are numerous benefits to this type of kit helicopter: the manufacturing process is quick and the assembly is straightforward and sequential. The airframe itself is light, the holding fixtures are easily set up within the fuselage and there are no bolted joints. The basic price for the initial kit is $335,000 although a fully completed helicopter will come to just under $400,000.
The prototype KC 001 was fitted with aluminum MRBs using an 8-inch chord...however Maloney notes the design has always included on-condition carbon fiber main rotor blades with a 9.5- inch chord. "Ray Prouty, a recognized helicopter main rotor expert, recommended the choice of airfoil used for the MRBs. Along with the development of the new carbon-fiber MRBs, we are expecting a significant increase in performance. While this is not necessary for the entry-level KC helicopter, it is an important design factor with future higher-powered derivatives. These new carbon-fiber MRB’s are designed for a gross weight of 4000lbs and MCP of 450 shp.”
From the basic design of the original KC518, the plan moving forward will be to evolve new helicopters with an increased seating capacity and greater performance. However, the immediate need is to obtain FAA certification, which should take a further three years to complete.
The KC518 kit will come with 20 major components including airframe, cabin floor, internal beams and bulkheads. There are around 22 secondary components that comprise carbon fiber doors and bulk hatches.
According to the company there are numerous benefits to this type of kit helicopter: the manufacturing process is quick and the assembly is straightforward and sequential. The airframe itself is light, the holding fixtures are easily set up within the fuselage and there are no bolted joints. The basic price for the initial kit is $335,000 although a fully completed helicopter will come to just under $400,000.
The prototype KC 001 was fitted with aluminum MRBs using an 8-inch chord...however Maloney notes the design has always included on-condition carbon fiber main rotor blades with a 9.5- inch chord. "Ray Prouty, a recognized helicopter main rotor expert, recommended the choice of airfoil used for the MRBs. Along with the development of the new carbon-fiber MRBs, we are expecting a significant increase in performance. While this is not necessary for the entry-level KC helicopter, it is an important design factor with future higher-powered derivatives. These new carbon-fiber MRB’s are designed for a gross weight of 4000lbs and MCP of 450 shp.”
From the basic design of the original KC518, the plan moving forward will be to evolve new helicopters with an increased seating capacity and greater performance. However, the immediate need is to obtain FAA certification, which should take a further three years to complete.
Fly Safe
R W
From New Zealand Herald
Helicopter crash north of Auckland - National - NZ Herald News
Two people have been injured following a helicopter crash in Rodney, north of Auckland.
Police say the chopper crashed into farmland at Duck Creek Road in Stillwater.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter has assessed the injuries of the Pilot and sole passenger, one of whom have been taken to North Shore Hospital with moderate injuries.
The other has been treated at the scene.
The cause of the crash is unknown.
Police have secured the crash site pending an investigation from the Civil Aviation Authority.
R W
From New Zealand Herald
Helicopter crash north of Auckland - National - NZ Herald News
Two people have been injured following a helicopter crash in Rodney, north of Auckland.
Police say the chopper crashed into farmland at Duck Creek Road in Stillwater.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter has assessed the injuries of the Pilot and sole passenger, one of whom have been taken to North Shore Hospital with moderate injuries.
The other has been treated at the scene.
The cause of the crash is unknown.
Police have secured the crash site pending an investigation from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Thread Starter
KC-518 crashes again
Not having a good run.
Lucky pilot survives his second crash - National - NZ Herald News
Dramatic shot of the chopper in the background too.
Lucky pilot survives his second crash - National - NZ Herald News
Dramatic shot of the chopper in the background too.
Very good work to the crew, what an interesting video! You can clearly watch the shift in phase lag when the drive link fails. The forward cyclic that was being used for forward flight becomes a left cyclic input when that link breaks and the phase angle changes. I'm curious what effect the collective had throughout the forced landing. Did changing collective setting compress the pitch change links and cause an even greater change in phase angle as the PCL's lagged behind even further. Very interesting to see those results. Good work guys!
Pitch links and swashplate.
An area where even some of the most experienced manufacturers and designers have got it wrong in the past.
Look at every prototype model in recent times and look at the amount of strain gauge work that is done in this area.
I would not be surprised if this was not just a simple component failure. Very complex stuff going on here. Possibly empirical info is insufficient.
This is a Special Category amateur built helicopter and therefore you only have to prove so much in the design.
An area where even some of the most experienced manufacturers and designers have got it wrong in the past.
Look at every prototype model in recent times and look at the amount of strain gauge work that is done in this area.
I would not be surprised if this was not just a simple component failure. Very complex stuff going on here. Possibly empirical info is insufficient.
This is a Special Category amateur built helicopter and therefore you only have to prove so much in the design.
Top job by the drivers 
But playing devil's advocate, would there not be a good case for wearing parachutes when test flying new helicopters with such a deviation from more traditional construction techniques?
Excellent solution to install duplicate scissor links from now on.
But playing devil's advocate, would there not be a good case for wearing parachutes when test flying new helicopters with such a deviation from more traditional construction techniques?
Excellent solution to install duplicate scissor links from now on.
But playing devil's advocate, would there not be a good case for wearing parachutes
when test flying new helicopters with such a deviation from more traditional construction techniques?
when test flying new helicopters with such a deviation from more traditional construction techniques?
Which bit deviates? The fuselage is a "one piece" carbon monocoque which sounds nice but has its limits.
i.e. you damage the tail and you have just damaged the whole fuselage.
The mechanicals are nothing special at all and probably as technically brilliant as a H300.
Parachute - you would need to be at least clear from the thing to deploy at the minimum of ~ 700'.
In this case I doubt that the thing would have remained stable enough after you unstrap, open door etc etc
and hoping that it is the right way up - good luck with that one.
Don't lose sight of the fact that this is an aircraft with a Special Category—Amateur-Built Aircraft Airworthiness Certificate.
