Chapter 515 Partners of the New Generation of Helicopters
As a former AgustaWestland technician, Colombo still has an idea of the effect of helicopters passing overhead.
Helicopters have two noise sources with different characteristics but related to each other.
Although the high-frequency noise emitted by the turboshaft engine is sharp and harsh, it can be effectively suppressed after the necessary noise reduction and vibration isolation settings are provided in the engine compartment.
As the source of lift, the blades must be exposed, and their wingtips simultaneously perform high-speed tangential motion and high-frequency vertical vibration in the air, thus producing a "chugging" mid- to low-frequency pulse sound.
This has not been solved yet.
It is also the main factor restricting the expansion of the high-end commercial helicopter market -
Low-frequency noise attenuates more slowly and is more likely to cause strong discomfort to the human ear, which is not good for passengers and even surrounding ground personnel. Pretty unfriendly.
Therefore, this is also the direction that the helicopter industry mainly hopes to improve in recent years.
AgustaWestland's current signature product, the A109 helicopter, is a 3-ton helicopter with very little movement.
But compared with the helicopter whose prototype was a dolphin that just flew over, the difference is still quite obvious.
The simple sound is small or the second reason.
More importantly, its sound is relatively soft.
Especially the mid-low frequency pulse sound that can penetrate the eardrum is much weaker.
So much so that when he had been immersed in thinking just now, he didn't even realize that a helicopter was flying directly overhead.
He knew the low-noise design principle of the MA60, which relied on the phase difference of the sound from the two propellers to cancel it out.
But this noise reduction effect is only useful inside the cabin, and the effect outside the cabin is relatively poor.
Besides, the helicopter only has one main rotor, so there is no condition to use a similar principle.
So, it is likely that some more unique noise reduction technology is used!
Of course, Colombo will not regard his own ears as a strict basis for judgment.
"The sound sounds small" can only be regarded as an intuitive feeling.
The volume perceived by the ear is related to the distance from the sound source, background noise and even environmental conditions.
The specific situation needs to be understood more specifically before we can know it clearly.
Thinking of this, he was a little restless.
Haofei Group has few restrictions on the activities of its partners, but this does not mean that they can run around in the infield during the test flight.
So after thinking for a moment, he immediately turned around, motioned for Leizzo to follow him, and then walked in the direction of Institute 603.
In Colombo’s impression, this research institute located in Haojing is mainly responsible for the research and development of large and medium-sized fixed-wing aircraft.
He had never seen a helicopter here before.
As the first Western aviation company to carry out in-depth project-level cooperation with China, Finmeccanica Group has been listed as an "International Strategic Partner" by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
For an Italian in Colombo, it is indeed not easy to understand the specific meanings contained in these adjectives.
But one of the obvious benefits is that he can go directly to middle- and high-level cadres like the director of the 603 Research Institute or the chairman of the Haofei Group without making an appointment.
......
Soon after, two Italians came to the office of Zhou Yonghang, director of the 603 Institute.
"Mr. Colombo?"
Zhou Yonghang saw the person coming and quickly stood up to greet him.
"Mr. Zhou, I'm sorry to bother you."
Colombo took the initiative to shake Zhou Yonghang's hand and was quite polite.
Both of them have strong English accents, but they can understand each other and can communicate directly.
Nowadays, his status, and even that of his wife Anne Colombo, are highly bound to the aviation industry’s cooperation with China, so both parties are definitely deeply bound by interests.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Colombo, who was holding something back, went directly to the topic:
"I just saw a helicopter being tested at the flight test base. Is that also a product of your company?"
Faced with this question, Zhou Yonghang was stunned for a moment.
Of course he knows about Bingcheng coming over to test-fly a new helicopter.
But in the aviation industry system, how to define the description "your company" is indeed a problem.
After organizing his language, he explained:
"Our Haojing Aircraft Industry Group currently does not have a helicopter business. That aircraft came from Bingcheng Aircraft Industry Group, but we are all branches of China Aviation Industry Corporation." Fortunately, Finmeccanica Group's situation is similar. So although the English on both sides was relatively jerky, Colombo still understood the meaning.
“It looks like it should be an improved version of a Dolphin?”
Although Colombo had seen it before, he still needed to find some conversational transition.
Otherwise it would be too blunt.
"That's right."
Zhou Yonghang nodded.
“Our country introduced Dolphin helicopters from France in the late 1980s, as well as the supporting Arriel engine technical data, and export licenses.”
This is not a secret, in fact This is what is written in the public information of Bingcheng Aircraft.
It’s just that few people paid attention to this replica model of French helicopters in the past.
"Do you still have an export permit?"
Colombo recalled the short wings on both sides of the plane just now, and the sound when it passed over his head.
He suddenly felt that the French would regret this sooner or later.
“Yes, we spent a lot of money back then.”
Zhou Yonghang lit a cigarette and replied with a smile.
"The fuel consumption of the Ahaye engine is quite unsatisfactory..."
Out of professional habits, Colombo almost subconsciously began to diss his competitors.
"There is nothing we can do. Ten years ago, our helicopter industry was almost in ruins, and the only people willing to transfer technology to us were the French."
Of course Zhou Yonghang could not refute this matter. Besides, Colombo was telling the truth.
“But we are constantly improving this model, I believe you have seen it.”
Colombo finally waited for the opportunity and immediately asked:
"In this case, Mr. Zhou, can you help me contact the technicians responsible for the development of that helicopter?"
Such a direct request made Zhou Yonghang was quite surprised.
Logically speaking, since the middle of last year, the two parties based on the MA60 project have been upgraded from Haofei Group and Agusta Company to the parent company of both parties. Colombo can naturally compete with Bingcheng. Keep in touch.
However, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China is, after all, a state-owned enterprise under the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. In addition to business logic, it often has to deal with first-hand discipline.
"According to our regulations, comrades who are responsible for the research and development of specific models cannot contact foreign personnel privately."
"But don't worry, Mr. Colombo, it will definitely be no problem to meet, but you must first submit your application to our head office An application, so it is not considered a private contact."
Colombo nodded in understanding.
He was not in a hurry at this moment.
So after asking some questions about application submission, I took Lezzo and left the office.
"Boss, are you planning to deepen cooperation with them on the helicopter project?"
After getting in the car, the latter, who was sitting in the driver's seat, asked while starting the car.
"Now...it's just a preliminary contact, I can't say what I'm going to do in detail yet."
Colombo shook his head, not being too serious about what he said.
Of course, he actually had this idea.
Finmeccanica Group's activities are diverse.
Among them, the one that Colombo is most familiar with and loves the most is naturally the helicopter.
And, after all, he was from the Agusta Group, so his actual influence on the old unit is always greater.
More importantly, AgustaWestland Group is currently planning to develop a generation-changing 6-ton medium-sized helicopter.
Requirements to exceed existing models on the market in terms of safety, comfort and speed.
We are currently negotiating cooperation with Bell and Westland.
But it didn’t go well.
Both parties felt that the performance indicators proposed by Agusta were too high and could not control project risks.
In this case, if a third reliable partner can be found, it will be a good thing for the company and for Colombo personally.
(End of this chapter)