Chapter 515: Partners of the new generation of helicopters

As a former AgustaWestland technician, Colombo still has an idea of ​​the effect of helicopters flying 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 human ears, which is quite unfriendly to passengers and even surrounding ground personnel.

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.

Simply having a small voice is secondary.

More importantly, its sound is relatively soft.

In particular, the mid- to low-frequency pulse sounds that can penetrate the eardrum are 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.

However, this noise reduction effect is only effective inside the cabin, and the effect outside the cabin is relatively poor.

Moreover, the helicopter only has one main rotor, so there is no condition to use a similar principle.

Therefore, 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 clearly.

Thinking of this, he couldn't sit still.

Haofei Group has few restrictions on the activities of its partners, but that doesn't mean they can just 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 Hokyong 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 hands with Zhou Yonghang and behaved very politely.

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 tied 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 problem, Zhou Yonghang was stunned for a moment.

Of course he knew 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 words, he explained:

"Our Haojing Aircraft Industry Group currently does not have a helicopter business. That aircraft comes from Bingcheng Aircraft Industry Group, but we are all branches of China Aviation Industry Corporation."

Fortunately, the situation of Finmeccanica Group was 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 stiff.

"Yes."

Zhou Yonghang nodded.

"Our country imported Dolphin helicopters from France in the late 80s, as well as the supporting Arriel engine technical data, and an export license."

This is not a secret. In fact, this is written in the public information of Ice City 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 license?"

Colombo recalled the short wings on both sides of the plane and the sound it made when it passed above 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 habit, 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 ones willing to transfer technology to us were the French."

Of course, Zhou Yonghang couldn't refute this matter, and what Colombo said was true.

"But we are constantly improving this model, and I believe you have seen it."

Colombo finally waited for the opportunity and immediately asked:

"In this case, can Mr. Zhou help me contact the technician responsible for the development of that helicopter?"

Such a direct request surprised Zhou Yonghang.

Logically speaking, since the middle of last year, the two parties based on the MA-60 project have been upgraded from Haofei Group and AgustaWestland to the parent company of both parties. Colombo can naturally contact Bingcheng.

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 development of specific models cannot contact foreign personnel in private."

"But don't worry, Mr. Colombo, it will definitely be no problem to meet. However, you must submit an application to our head office first, so that it will not be 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 out of 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.

"Right now...it's just a preliminary contact. I can't say what I'm going to do in detail yet."

Colombo shook his head and did not take his words too seriously.

Of course, he actually had this idea.

Finmeccanica Group's activities are diverse.

Among them, the helicopter is naturally the one that Colombo is most familiar with and loves the most.

Moreover, after all, he is from the Agusta Group, so his actual influence on the old unit is always greater.

More importantly, the AgustaWestland Group is currently planning to develop a generation-changing 6-ton medium-sized helicopter.

It is required to exceed existing models on the market in terms of safety, comfort and speed.

We are currently negotiating cooperation with Bell and Westland.

But none went well.

Both parties felt that the performance indicators proposed by Agusta were too high and could not control project risks.

In this case, it would be good for the company and for Colombo personally if a third reliable partner could be found.