Kazan Ansat

Kazan Helicopters in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia has been one of the main Russian manufacturers of helicopters of the Mikhail Mil bureau design. In the 1990s management realized that there would be a need for light helicopters in Russia, as the fleet of standard Mi-2's was getting older, and the design itself became obsolete. The Mi-2 was the lightest helicopter in large-scale use in the former USSR, despite being larger than most light Western helicopters. At first Kazan Helicopters wanted to develop a helicopter based on the AS 350 Ecureuil in cooperation with Eurocopter, but it failed. As a result, in 1993 Kazan Helicopters organized its own design bureau in order to create a new helicopter (the bureau was officially certified by the Russian authorities in January 1997, designer Valery Dvoeglazov). The helicopter was named Ansat (meaning "light", "simple" or "easy" in the Tatar language).[1]

In 1998 the first prototype for ground static tests was completed. The second prototype (no. 02, then 902) first flew on August 17, 1999, but the first official flight was made on October 6, 1999. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206 engines. Another prototype, with a longer and slimmer fuselage, and powered by two PW207K engines, flew on December 27, 2001 (no. 03, then 904). From 2002 it was undergoing the certification process. The third prototype introduced clam shell doors for the cabin opening upwards and downwards, instead of the sliding ones. It was offered as the Ansat-U military trainer variant with dual controls. As of 2005, apart from the fourth prototype, no further Ansat's had yet been built.

In September 2001,[2] the Ansat-U won a contest for a trainer helicopter for the Russian Air Force. By 2010 four were in service with the Russian Air Force's Syzran Military Pilot Flying Training School. A further 20 are planned, to be powered by Ukrainian Motor Sich MS-500V engines replacing the Pratt & Whitney engines of the first four Ansats.[3] New light multi-purpose civilian helicopter "ANSAT" with hydromechanical control system of JSC "Kazan Helicopter Plant" has received type certification of Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) on 28 August 2013.[4] Type Certificate of IAC AR, allowing (freight) helicopters to begin commercial operation, was obtained in August 2013. In December 2014, IAC AR issued the approval of the main changes (addition to the type certificate), allowing for the transportation of the passengers on the commercial market. The emergence of medical options was the final step in creating a unified helicopter, certified for transport and medical works, transportation of people. Earlier, versions of these helicopters were used by the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB and other state structures of Russia.[5]

Ansat-U cockpit

VIP version of Ansat helicopter was certified on 31 December 2015 and with a cabin in the style of the Aurus luxury cars brand in early February 2020.[6] The helicopter is equipped with hydromechanical control system and its passenger cabin can accommodate up to seven energy-absorbing passenger seats. There is also a ventilation and air conditioning systems. According to General Director at Kazan Helicopter Plant Vadim Ligai, work is underway to modernize helicopter's fuel system and install additional 200 kg fuel tanks in order to increase its flight range.[7]

On 28 October 2016, Russian Helicopters has presented a civilian version of Ansat helicopter.[8]

In 2017–2018, the helicopter has been certified for operation under extremely cold and high temperatures from minus 45°С to plus 50°С, during series of ground and flight testing.[9] In January 2019, on the basis of trials conducted at the Mount Elbrus in 2018, the Federal Air Transport Agency certified the increase in take-off/landing altitude of the Ansat from previous 1,000 m to 3,500 m and approved the helicopter for high-altitude operations.[10] Ansat helicopter optional Emergency Floatation System certified in March 2020.[11]

The Ansat is of a classic construction. It takes a pilot and 10 passengers (one of them sits next to the pilot). The fuselage has a pair of doors in pilot's cab, and a pair of upwards and downwards opening side doors in transport compartment. After the seats have been removed, it can take 1000 kg of cargo inside. On external hook, it can take 1300 kg of load. It is powered with two PW207K turboshaft engines, which produce 630 shp each. It features a four-blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor.

Flying laboratory Kazan Ansat-O

Kazan Ansat-U of the Russian Air Force

Ansat

Basic version, 2 prototypes built.

Ansat-M

Air ambulance for two stretchers.

Ansat-O

Flying laboratory for testing of avionic equipment for naval helicopters.

Ansat-U

Special military-training version with three-wheel chassis and double-winged cargo doors.

Ansat-UM

Military medevac for 4 stretchers.

Ansat-1K

Version certified only for cargo transport.

Ansat-1M

Version with hydro-mechanical control system KSU-A instead of the fly-by-wire control system.

Derivatives

Kazan Ansat-2RC at 2007 MAKS

Kazan Ansat-2RC

Derived from the civilian version and equipped with a 12.7mm (0.5 inch) machine gun above the front skid support, as well as four hardpoints spread across two stub wings. The company has already displayed the helicopter carrying a mixture of rocket launcher tubes, bombs and anti-aircraft missiles.[24]

 Russia

• Russian Air Force[12]
• Tulpar Helicopters[13]
• Vector Aviation[13]
• Russian Helicopter Systems[16]
• Polar Airlines[22]
• Rostec State Corporation[18]
  • Russian Helicopters[8]
  • National Service of Medical Aviation
  • Avia Capital Services LLC

 People's Republic of China

• Chinese Association for Disaster & Emergency Rescue Medicine[19]

 Eritrea

• Eritrean Air Force[23]

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004,[2] Russian Helicopters[25]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1–2
• Capacity:
  
  • 7–8 passengers
  • 2 stretchers and 3 attendants
  • 1,234 kg (2,721 lb) internal
• Length: 13.76 m (45 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
• Empty weight: 1,900 kg (4,189 lb)
• Gross weight: 3,000 kg (6,614 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 3,600 kg (7,937 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207K turboshaft engines, 470 kW (630 shp) each
• Main rotor diameter: 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
• Main rotor area: 103.87 m² (1,118.0 sq ft)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 275 km/h (171 mph, 148 kn)
• Cruise speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
• Never exceed speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn)
• Range: 515 km (320 mi, 278 nmi)
• Endurance: 3 hours 20 minutes
• Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,700 ft)
• Rate of climb: 21.5 m/s (4,230 ft/min)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bell 212
• Kamov Ka-60
• PZL W-3 Sokół
• Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil
• Mil Mi-2
• PZL Kania

• Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
• Mladenov, Alexander. "Re-engined Ansat for Russia". Air International, November 2010, Vol 79 No 5. p. 26. ISSN 0306-5634.
• Mladenov, Alexander. "Ansat". Air International, February 2016, Vol 90, No. 2. pp. 78–82. ISSN 0306-5634