Afalina is an ultra-light two-seater multipurpose helicopter that is easy to maneuver and is light yet fast. Afalina has coaxial rotors which are difficult to produce. Coaxial rotor positioning creates resistance to lateral wind gusts and makes this helicopter more silent. Afaliana is the cheapest helicopter with starting price of USD 120000 only. The price of Afaliana beats Robinsons which has a two-seater helicopter for USD 300000. Heliwhale has a production plant for this ultra-light rotorcraft in Kemerovo and has a production capacity of 10-15 helicopters per year.
Afalina Engine
Heliwhale Afalina uses a single engine with two sets of coaxial rotor blades. To reduce operating as well as an overall one-time cost of this helicopter piston engine is used. It is believed that a piston engine costs ten times less than the gas-turbine engine of a small dimension. Fuel consumption of Afalina is around 18-22 liters per hour which is very reasonable. As per statistics difference in the failure rate of single-engine helicopters and twin-engine is insignificant. For 100000 flight hours, single-engine helicopters have a failure rate of 1.69, and twin engines have 1.59.
Afalina uses a Rotax 914UL engine generating 115 HP and can be refueled with 95 octane fuel i.e. with conventional car petrol.
Afalina Tail Plane
Afalina has no tail rotor since coaxial rotor baldes cancel the torque generated. Although coaxial rotors are considered tough to manufacture they have multiple advantages and lesser torque is one of them. The tailplane of Afalina has vertical two tips mounted vertical fins to augment the directional stability of the helicopter which improves overall flying characteristics.
Afalina Technical Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2
- Length: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
- Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
- Empty weight: 270 kg (595 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 914 four-cylinder, liquid, and air-cooled, turbocharged, four-stroke aircraft engine, 86 kW (115 hp)
- Propellers: 6-bladed composites
- Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kn)
- Cruising speed: 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn)
- Range: 750 km (466 mi; 405 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 2,000 m (6,562 ft)
Afalina Market Conditions
Currently, Afalina is the cheapest helicopter available in the market and will attract a good number of customers. At present, there is no news on any commercial competition to Afalina helicopter but if market demand rises we can expect Robinsons to come up with a newer and better piece of technology.
