Aeroelektromash VA-115 (prototype)

VA-115 (prototype)
Aeroelektromash JSC
Moscow, Russia
www.aeroem.ru

Aeroelektromash JSC was founded in the 1920s in Russia and has years-long experience in the design of electrical equipment for aviation and space engineering. The company is in the business of development, manufacture and repair of motors, generators, electrical equipment, automatic control systems and other types of support systems for the domestic aviation industry. The company announced in 2019 they were developing a hybrid-electric ultra-light passenger helicopter and it is patented. The company is headquartered in Moscow, Russia.  (Images: Aeroelektromash)

The VA115 rotorcraft prototype was first put on display at Helirussia 2019 which took place May 16-18, 2019 in Moscow, Russia. The helicopter has been developed under Aeroelektromash with the OKB Rotor design bureau from Kumertau, Republic of Bashkortostan.

VA-115 hyrid-electric ultralight one passenger trainer helicopter prototype
The VA-115 is a hybrid-electric ultralight one person training helicopter prototype with coaxial rotorblades. The helicopter has an open cockpit. The helicopter is compact, efficient and is the lowest noise helicopter in its class. The fuselage is made of aircraft aluminum and carbon fiber composite.

The helicopter is very efficient as there is no transmission from the engine to the rotorblades. The rotorblades are powered by an electric motor. With coaxial rotorblades, there is no need for a tail rotor since both rotorblades are turning in opposite directions and cancel the torque. Torque is created when there is only one main rotorblade. The coaxial rotorblades have a hingeless suspension design. The rotorcraft has an H-tail.

The cruise speed of the rotorcraft is 80 km/h (50 mph) and has a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68 mph). The maximum altitude of the helicopter is 4,500 m (14,764 ft). The rate of climb is 4.0 m/s  (13.1 ft per second).

The aircraft uses two Hirth Engines GmbH F23 RS-01 2 cylinder boxer two stroke that supplies electricity to the two electric motors 24 kW (34 h.p.) that turns the coaxial rotorblades. The electric motors are made by Aeroelektromash. The fuel capacity of the rotorcraft is 30 l (8 gal.). The empty weight of the helicopter is 139 kg  (306 lb), has a maximum payload of 121 kg (267 lbs) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 260 kg (573 lbs).

The length of the rotorcraft is 3.7 m (12 ft, 2-2/3 inches), the width is 1.6 m (5 ft, 2-31/32 inches) and its height is 2.6 m (8 ft, 6.7/16 inches). The rotorblade diameter is 4.5 m (14 ft, 9-1/6 inches). The rotorcraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

In case of a power failure, the helicopter can autorotate to safety.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric ultralight passenger training helicopter prototype
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Cruise speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
• Maximum speed: 110 km/h (68 mph)
• Maximum altitude: 4,500 m (14,764 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.0 m/s  (13.1 ft per second)
• Empty weight: 139 kg  (306 lb)
• Maximum payload: 121 kg (267 lbs)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 260 kg (573 lbs)
• Rotorblades: Coaxial rotorblades
• Electric motor: 2 electric motors 24 kW (34 h.p.)
• Power source: 2 Hirth Engines GmbH F23 RS-01 2 cylinder boxer two stroke
• Fuel capacity: 30 l (8 gal.)
• Fuselage: Aircraft aluminum and carbon fiber composite
• Length: 3.7 m (12 ft, 2-2/3 inches)
• Width: 1.6 m (5 ft, 2-31/32 inches)
• Height: 2.6 m (8 ft, 6.7/16 inches)
• Rotorblade diameter: 4.5 m (14 ft, 9-1/6 inches)
• Cockpit: Open cockpit
• Tail: H-tail
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
• Safety features: In case of a power failure, the helicopter can autorotate to safety.

Related Aircraft:

• Aeroelektromash R-34 (prototype)
• Aeroelektromash VA-250 (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Bloomberg
• Dun & Bradstreet
• Investment Projects Digital Platform
• Org-Info

Resources:

• Aeroelektromash website
• Aeroelektromash VK (VKontakte)
• Aeroelektromash RUTUBE
• Aeroelektromash YouTube
• Video: Вертолет R-34, АО АЭРОЭЛЕКТРОМАШ (Aeroelektromash), Aeroelektromash, May 17, 2019
• Video: Выставка - HelliRussia 2019.mp4, Aeroelektromash, 2019
• Article: JSC “Aeroelektromash” at the “HeliRussia 2019” expo, Aeroelectromoach, 2019
• Article: JSC “Aeroelektromash” presents Its recent innovative developments at “HeliRussia 2019” expo., Aeroelectromoach, 2019
• Video: Выставка - МАКС 2019, Aeroelektromash, Oct. 2, 2019
• Video: Выставка - Helirussia 2021, Aeroelektromash, May 2, 2021