6 March 2013
Rolls-Royce has announced the latest variant of its M250 engine for helicopters at Heli Expo 2013 in Las Vegas.
According to Rolls-Royce, the engine is a more powerful version which increases takeoff power to 700 shaft horsepower.
Greg Fedele, senior VP helicopters and light turbines, said, “The M250-C47E incorporates a package we developed last year called the VIP, which is a high/hot kit, and then it also incorporates our new dual channel FADEC to the C47 architecture,’ Fedele said.
The more powerful version features a dual-channel full-authority digital engine control system, which Fedele said may soon allow for on-condition maintenance. Fedele said the fuel burn and direct operating cost of the new engine are also lower than previous M250 models.
The launch customer for the M250-C47E is MD Helicopters. The company will introduce the engine in the MD 540F helicopter, which will have both commercial and military applications. The first flight with the new engine is expected early next year, while first deliveries are projected for 2015.
The US Navy has committed as the first military customer to incorporate the M250-C47E into the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout.
<a href=’http://www.rolls-royce.com/news/press_releases/2013/04032013_military_helicopters.jsp’ target=’_blank’>www.rolls-royce.com</a>
