"Project Q"

[Savoia]

UAE to develop own helicopter with launch planned for Dubai Air Show


A new family of civil helicopters are set for launch at the Dubai Air Show in November – with a UAE company behind the initiative.

The manufacturer is called Quest Helicopters and is backed by Quest Investments.

Sources involved in the project say that the helicopter will be built in the UAE and will be brought to market in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Dubbed “Project Q” the company claims it will be revealing ground-breaking technology and design.

The team involved in the project are believed to include aviation experts from the UK and UAE with engineering expertise from the Ukraine.

The helicopters will be built in compliance with Ukrainian, UAE and EASA certification standards.

Arabian Aerospace - UAE to develop own helicopter with launch planned for Dubai Air Show (http://arabianaerospace.aero/uae-to-develop-own-helicopter-with-launch-planned-for-dubai-air-show.html)

Anyone with the inside track on "Project Q" or "Quest Helicopters"?

[9Aplus]

Well,
my coin flips on Perla group and Aerocopter AK1-3 next gen....

[500e]

You have heard the rumor then.
Click Aviation & scroll down

Armored Cars | AK1-3 Helicopters | VSAT | Bomb Detection Dogs | K9 (http://www.perlagrp.com/)

[Savoia]

You may well be right and, by all counts [see: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/384029-aerocopter-ak1-3-pt3.html] the AK1 is a promising little craft but .. it makes me wonder about the ".. ground-breaking technology and design" to be revealed. I guess we'll soon see.

If it is the AK1 then good for them. This should certainly give their design the boost they needed.

[Figure Of Merit]

... and i thought this was going to turn out to be a thread about Q Smith's new training school at Denham. HQ Aviation

[Savoia]

... and i thought this was going to turn out to be a thread about Q Smith's new training school at Denham.

Well go on then, spill the beans on what you know!

Don't know Quentin but knew the dad back in the days of Mike and Archie (March Helicopters). 'Tis probably better the Smith's 'do their own thing' .. actually I thought Heli Air was a Smith venture but perhaps there were partners etc. (all happened after I left the UK).

Anyway, best of luck to Q and his new crew!





Mike Smith sold the company in 2004:http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/119447-heliair-changes-ownership.html

[Aser]

.. it makes me wonder about the ".. ground-breaking technology and design" to be revealed.


A throttle governor system is offered as a factory fitted option to make pilot control even easier. This governor system consists of a Subaru "cruise-control" unit adapted for helicopter use.:E

Interesting helicopter
AK1-3 Helicopter | A Truly Affordable and Reliable Helicopter For Sale (http://www.perlagrp.com/aviation/ak1-3.php)

[Figure Of Merit]

Savoia- there's no beans to be spilled. Q has left HeliAir and set up his own training facility at Denham. He's called it HQ aviation.HQ Aviation Ltd (http://www.hqaviationltd.com)
It's all up and running. Anyway.. back to the thread

[500e]

Don't see how they will get aprovals on the auto engine, but the general machine looks well made, it flies real soothe I was told by a pilot that had 1.4 hours in one.

[frontlefthamster]

It's worth reading the website about it...

I see it has an airscrew, a rudder airscrew, and plumage...

What could possibly go wrong?

It also has an English-built battery, and the chap writing about it bought a Subaru Forester which didn't go wrong.

Happy days.

I might even take up rotary wing flight again if I can get a machine with plumage.

[Ian Corrigible]

Flight (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uae-in-quest-for-rotorcraft-future-362766/) says 'Project Q' will be a "twin helicopter concept...offered in piston and turbine versions."

Possibly the RUMAS A245 (http://paralay.iboards.ru/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=933)?

http://i072.radikal.ru/0909/53/04b2bab66914.jpg

I/C

[Epiphany]

Seems some people still have money to burn.

[212man]

The cabin of the helicopter provides free accommodation for two members of the crew

That's good - I hate it when you have to pay :p

[Andy Healey]

I love a good buzz. Twin rotors, ejector seat, why not?

[heli1]

Come back McCulloch/Jovair of the 1950s...all is forgiven !

[Savoia]

Well spotted Heli1! :ok:

For those unfamiliar with McCulloch's work ..


Jovair (originally the Helicopter Engineering Research Corporation) was established by Drago Jovanovich at Philadelphia in 1946 to produce helicopters. The firm was taken over by McCulloch Aircraft Corporation, along with its two most promising designs, the J-2 and the JOV-3.

The Jovanovich JOV-3 was a two-seat tandem helicopter originally designed by Drago Jovanovich at the Helicopter Engineering Research Corporation (HERC). When McCulloch Aircraft Corporation purchased HERC they improved the design for prospective military use and it became the McCulloch MC-4.

The McCulloch Model MC-4 was an American tandem-rotor helicopter and was the first helicopter developed by McCulloch Motors's Aircraft Division.It was evaluated by the United States Army as the YH-30 and the United States Navy as the XHUM-1.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4589910367_33b0b4bca4.jpg
The McCulloch MC-4

[Ian Corrigible]

Now confirmed:

Quest Helicopters launches a new family of Turbine helicopters to be built in the UAE.
Quest (http://www.questhelicopters.aero) 13th November

http://www.emeraldmedia.co.uk/media/images/news/full/757.jpg

Quest Helicopters, a new name in aerospace, helicopter design and technology, launches today at the Dubai Air Show. The privately-owned company, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, is announcing plans to fund, develop, define and refine new technology for a family of innovative new light twin engine and twin rotor system helicopters.

Originally Dubbed “Project Q,” the QUEST AVQ series will be the first civil helicopters to be assembled and manufactured in Umm Al Quwain in the UAE and will incorporate a number of innovative features, including a unique passenger and crew safety system. Quest has found a suitable plot of land in Umm Al Quwain, UAE where it will build a comprehensive assembly and production facility in the UAE, as it aims to commence initial production in 2014.

These “clean sheet” prototype helicopters, have been designed by Volodymyr Udovenko and will feature a new series of engines with FADEC built in the Ukraine. The long life airframes have been engineered for robust operations, and feature a raft of ‘cutting edge’ technologies. These include an all-new primary “fly-by-wire” control system, a distinctive eject-able crew and passenger safety capsule cabin and a “telemetry downlink” maintenance monitoring system.

The UAE principals and investors in Quest Helicopters, a subsidiary of Quest Investments, have pledged an initial investment of up to US$50 million in the initial programme. Quest’s investment lends support to further develop the expertise of design bureau chief, Vlodomyr Udovenko, overseen by the Ukraine’s Academy of science and technology.

Quest’s project is expected to generate new jobs in the UAE from the end of 2012. Collaboration on the project has been further bolstered by a proposed bilateral agreement between EASA and the Ukraine’s Civil Aviation Authority enabling the new helicopters to be built with joint cooperation and a parallel certification program. The helicopters will be powered by new technology engines from aviation manufacturers Progress DB/ Motor sich Ukraine, 2 x AI-450 M turbines with FADEC, delivering up to 465 shaft horse power (shp) per engine.

The initial four-seat model, which is highly competitively priced at US$2.95 million will have a range of 435 nm (700 kms), a maximum speed of 185 mph (295 kph), and a maximum endurance of 3.6 hours. The Helicopters’ maximum take-off weight will be 4,960lbs (2,250 kgs) and empty weight will be 1,300 kgs.

I/C

[hillberg]

The project will run out of $$$$$$$ and the idea of Cabin excape was an old Piasecki idea tested in the 50s, As it's configured it has way too much wasted space.

[iuk1963]

New Helicopter Venture Unveiled | AVIATION WEEK (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=dubai_2011&id=news/awx/2011/11/13/awx_11_13_2011_p0-393693.xml&headline=New%20Helicopter%20Venture%20Unveiled)

gulfnews : Al Ansari to make helicopters in UAE (http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/al-ansari-to-make-helicopters-in-uae-1.932167)

News from the Dubai Air Show. Will they make it?.. Not easy isn't it?

[Ian Corrigible]

Much to everyone's surprise, the escape pod-equipped Quest AVQ will not achieve its goal of "initial production in 2014." :hmm:

Quest shelves AVQ helicopter to become MDHI distributor (http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/dubai-air-show/2013-11-17/quest-shelves-avq-helicopter-become-md-distributor)

I/C

[Old Age Pilot]

http://www.perlagrp.com/images/aviation/ak1-3/ak1-3-img-1.jpg

Although a bit late to this, I'm intrigued to see an H322. All the discussions about the differences between the 300 and 22, someone finally put them together :E

Could the previous rumors about "ground breaking technology" be anti-bird strike technology? That Seagull looks pretty happy.

[fluffy5]

No wonder it got shelved, they came to the conclusion that the aircraft would be Toyota land cruiser, KFC and Pizza Hut incompatible. :}

Fluffy