The Military-industrial Scientific Research System of the Academic Master Chapter 515

Chapter 515: Partners for 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 engine compartment undergoes necessary noise reduction and vibration isolation settings.

As the source of lift, the propeller 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 is a problem that 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.

Hence, 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.

Especially the mid-low frequency pulse sound that can penetrate the eardrum is much weaker.

He knows the low-noise design principle of the MA60, which relies on the phase difference of the sound of the two propellers to cancel it out.

For an Italian in Colombo, it is indeed not easy to understand the specific meanings contained in these adjectives.

Just a small voice or something secondary.

“The sound sounds small” can only be regarded as an intuitive feeling.

He had never seen a helicopter here before.

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.

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.

Thinking of this, he was a little restless.

But one of the obvious benefits is that he can go directly to the director of the 603 Research Institute or the chairman of the Haofei Group or other middle- and high-level cadres without making an appointment.

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.

The specific situation needs to be understood more specifically before we can know it clearly.

The volume perceived by the ear is related to the distance from the sound source, background noise and even environmental conditions.

Haofei Group has few restrictions on the activities of its partners, but it does not mean that they can run around in the infield during the test flight.

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.

But this noise reduction effect is only useful inside the cabin, and the effect outside the cabin is relatively poor.

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.

But compared with the helicopter that just flew over, whose prototype is a dolphin, the difference is still quite obvious.

More importantly, its sound is relatively soft.

Not long 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 quite 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 pleasantries, 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, 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 the Dolphin?”

Although Colombo has seen it before, he still needs to find some topic transition.

Otherwise it would be too blunt.

“That's right.”

Zhou Yonghang nodded.

“Our country introduced the Dolphin helicopter from France in the late 1980s, 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 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 habit, Colombo almost subconsciously began to diss his competitors.

“There is no other way. 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 could not refute this matter, and Colombo was telling the truth.

“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, could 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 M60 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 research and development of specific models cannot contact foreign personnel in private.”

“But don't worry, Mr. Colombo, it will definitely be okay to meet, but you have to submit an application to our head office first, so it won't be considered a private contact.”

Colombo nodded in understanding.

He was not in a hurry at this moment.

So after asking some things to note about application submission, he 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.

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

Colombo shook his head and did not say too harshly.

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.

Furthermore, he is from the Agusta Group after all, and 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.

˜Required to exceed existing models on the market in terms of safety, comfort and speed.

At present, we are negotiating cooperation with Bell and Westland.

But it didn't go well.

Both sides 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)

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