Angel, Ukraine’s First Helicopter

On August 31 the exhibition of Kyiv enterprisers’ products displayed an experimental mockup of the Angel Ukrainian-made helicopter. One must say that this fact itself inspires optimism, for Ukraine has never manufactured helicopters on its own, while the fleet of Soviet-made choppers is now obsolete according to all parameters. This state of affairs in precisely this sector is somewhat surprising because Ukraine is one of the world’s seven countries that have a complete- cycle aerospace industry,

The Aviaimpeks Company has drawn up a program of extensive helicopter production in Ukraine. According to Serhiy Shevchuk, first deputy manager of the enterprise, many performances of the new Angel helicopter surpass those of its foreign analogues. The machine is equipped with two engines, which adds to in-flight safety, and is able to consume automobile gasoline, which will surely make it much cheaper to maintain. In fact, the Angel does incorporate some imported components, for example, Austrian-made engines. Yet, the designers promise that very soon the helicopter will be completely made of domestically produced parts. In addition to costing only half its foreign counterparts, Mr. Shevchuk says, the Angel will also help solve the problem of training cadet pilots who, due to lack of money for fuel, fail to earn the required number of flight hours. The Angel will also be used as an ambulance, a means of surveillance over oil and gas pipelines, and, by all accounts, a business class passenger vehicle. For a private flying machine is no longer a rarity.