The PSV demonstrator is a flying testbed designed for full-scale flight tests of the airframe of the future high-speed rotorcraft. The flying testbed is being derived from the Mi-24K helicopter and being equipped with an advanced main rotor embodying the latest aerodynamic, strength and technology advances. In addition, the helicopter has had its standard two-seat cockpit replaced with a streamlined single-seat one.

The flying testbed will ensure the use of real high-speed flights to assess advanced technical and manufacturing solutions implemented in the main rotor blades, wing variants with various aerodynamic configurations, and vibration and g-load levels. The results to be produced by the flying testbed's flight tests will be very reliable. They cannot be obtained by means of calculations or wind tunnel tests.

The execution of the flying testbed programme is a necessary phase of laying the scientific and technical groundwork to increase the speed of rotorcraft initially up to 400 km/h and then to 450 km/h or even more. In addition, the results produced by the flying testbed may be used in research and development aimed at upgrading the existing helicopters and developing more advanced ones.

A pair of VK-2500-01 turboshaft engines with a takeoff power of 2,400 hp will equip the Mi-24K-based PSV demonstrator having maximum takeoff weight of 11,500 kg. If all goes to plan, the flying testbed will attain maximum speed up to 400 km/h, with its cruising speed to account for 340-360 km/h. Its estimated static ceiling is 3,880 m and its dynamic ceiling stands at 6,200 m.

The Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, a member of Russian Helicopters, is finalising the construction of a flying PSV demonstrator. Its first flight is slated for December 2015.

The introduction of the PSV flying testbed-proven new-generation main rotor blades to the Mi-28N helicopter is expected to produce a 10% increase in its maximum speed and a 13% hike in its cruising speed, with these values for the Mi-35M helicopter to be 13% and 30% respectively.

Published in Take-off magazine, November 2015.

(Photo: Yevgeny Yerokhin)