Composite Helicopters KC518 Adventourer
 

Anyone know anything more about this?
Assume it's legit?
Looks very like a Eurocopter.

It appears to be a cross between a 500 and 44/66. I like the lines of the 500, Robbie not so much, but this machine is looking very nice. I'll take two.

How about auto-pilot?

At least they might be looking for some licensing costs and/or objection to the use of the round bit at the back.

Design wise it looks the part. Never understood why other manufacturers never did something similar. New cab with proven dynamics for example. Best of luck to them.

Agree - good luck to them - very nice looking.
But my thoughts exactly on the licensing issue.
Is the Fenestron Eurocopter proprietary technology?

Probably, but being a kiwi design this one will have a 'funastron'.

looks very interesting and a nice alternative to the B206 wonder if they plan to get it type approved in EU as well

Can't see Eurocopter being too happy to see their "Moustache" type landing gear being used either. I seem to recall Bell making a hasty change to the 429's landing gear soon before its launch, due I believe to an EC patent infringement.

And as one of my instructors said..."we don't fly aircraft that you build with parts you buy at the local hardware store".

Makes sense to me :ok:

Arrrj

I was pleasantly surprised when these guys got to the hovering and taxiing phase. I wonder where they are up to now?



Composite Helicopters

Hovers with its skids nice and level.

Always good to see a new type and new ideas being developed. I hope they get the funding to take them through the expensive regulatory certification process. Not sure what the situation in NZ is but in Oz the government subsidises the automobile manufacturing industry to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year just to "assemble" components supplied by outsourcers.

You've got to respect their ambition. Kudos to them.

But I imagine that they might have to change the design of their skid gear once Eurocopter watch this video. I seem to remember that a similar patent dispute didn't end so well for the Bell 429.

Had the privilege of a guided tour of the machine and its components not long back. It is one mighty impressive bit of gear.
tet

Just noodling to myself and wondered if Guimbal and these folks could do a JV on this 5 seat ship ..... :8

Sounds like a prototype has been ditched in the sea. Sounds like the crew are all ok - I really hope so:

Helicopter crash at Mechanics Bay - Story - NZ News - 3 News

Helicopter Crashes Into Water In Auckland | Stuff.co.nz

Bugger, I guess this wouldn't be the first prototype to come unstuck. I really hope that as indicated, the crew are ok and that the development continues.

Weather in Auckland today is beautiful - clear skies and light winds.

Sounds textbook. Almost good advertising in a way. :O

I hope it does not set their program back too far.

No bellmouth or FOD screen, A June bug could of wrecked that engine,:{

Pilot reported engine failure, semi controlled ditching into shallow water.
Witnessed by the other prototype.

I hope at least they can learn something positive from the excursion.

Saw it at the airshow recently, bloody marvellous.

In general terms can a carbon fibre frame recover from a soaking?

Best wishes to all the team


Mickjoebill

Carbon fibre structures
 

MJB

Provided that the structure is not fractured it may* be OK. The biggest threat to laminated composites is from impact damage which causes delaminations between the plies. These can be tricky to spot because carbon fibre materials are linear elastic to failure, in other words they do not bend, they either break or spring back to their original position. Unfortunately the same is true for the layers over a delamination, so they are not visible. You need ultrasonic NDI or a tap hammer to find them.

The other problem is that depending on the resin type used, impcat damage can occur at quite low impact energy. Simple tool drop accidents can result in significant delaminations. Provided he didn't hit the water too hard it may be OK.

Blakmax

Updates coming through now - as MickJoeBill said - engine failure followed by what sounds like a textbook auto/ditching and water escape. Pilot and passenger not a a scratch. Wow.

Helicopter Crashes Into Water In Auckland | Stuff.co.nz

This TV3 story has video of the autorotation.
Lot of smoke from the turbine - FOD, chip, oil...?