Strong wind is one of the most challenging problems for helicopters. Especially where equipment must operate in harsh conditions, such as the Arctic. Engineers at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) have found a way to make helicopters safer to use under increased wind loads.
In strong winds, the most critical moments for a helicopter are the start-up and shutdown of the main rotor. During this time, the blade tips can bend significantly and hit the tail boom, other structural elements, or even the runway surface. Such impacts damage parts and increase maintenance costs.
Therefore, for helicopter operation, it is important to determine the maximum wind speed at which the risk of such damage is completely eliminated, explained the project author, Associate Professor of the Department of "Aircraft Design and Certification" at MAI, Maxim Kargaev.
The study showed that the controlled flap for the studied operating variant was 2.74 times more effective than an active trim tab. Its application allowed increasing the maximum permissible wind speed for safe operation by 35.1% compared to the classic blade design without active control elements.
An even greater result was shown by the controlled slotless tip – it increased the maximum wind speed by 45%. It is expected that the discovery will be useful for future developments of new generation blades.
The project is being implemented within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by the President of Russia. The developed mathematical models have already been used by "NCV Mil and Kamov" company during the certification of the new civil helicopter Mi-171A3.
This is the first fully Russian helicopter created specifically for transporting people and cargo to offshore drilling platforms. Certification tests, which took place in 2026 in Yakutia, confirmed the accuracy of the calculations performed.