H145 New Comfort Experience: Upgrading From Four-Bladed HMR To Five-Bladed BMR

Abstract:
In 2020, Airbus Helicopters achieved EASA type certification of the BK117 D-3 (branding name H145), which is the latest variant of the BK117 family. It entails a significant upgrade from the BK117 D-2. The major change, a new five bladed main rotor, required extensive investigations with respect to dynamics. This paper gives a short overview of the history of the BK117 family development from its beginnings up to now and on the investigations performed in the fields of structural dynamics, aeromechanics stability and equipment integration for its latest variant. A development and certification methodology, relying on the use of numerical tools validated by using the results of extensive laboratory, ground and flight testing was applied. It is shown that the upgrade of the H145 with the five bladed rotor allowed to reduce the helicopter's empty weight by omitting landing gear dampers and anti-vibration measures as well as thanks to the reduced weight of the rotor system itself.

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