State-
For many years the Robinson R22 has been the standard light training and personal helicopter, but Fama Helicopters Africa hopes that the new Fama K209 will provide a better performing and more modern alternative.
Designed and built by Fama at Modena in Italy, the stylish K209 is powered by a single gas turbine-
Using turbine has a number of benefits, such as allowing the use of jet fuel, paraffin or diesel as a fuel. More importantly, the turbine engine allows students to progress straight to a turbine rating without having to convert later in their instruction course.
Compared with the R22, the K209 is a more modern machine, featuring a single large ‘glass’ cockpit display in the roomy cockpit. The design incorporates a capacious 100KG baggage pod behind the two-
The helicopter’s tube structure is filled with nitrogen and is fitted with a gauge, allowing any cracks to be detected without having to visually inspect the structure. Much of the structure is carbon fibre as are the rotor blades. The latter have a theoretically unlimited life span.
Performance-
Fama is working on a four/five-
The K209 on display at AAD was the first aircraft in South Africa. It arrived in January to allow certification, which has now been completed. Three more K209s have now arrived in South Africa, including the first of the retractable under carriage variants.
Fama Helicopters Africa is the local agent for the type, based at Wonderboom airport near Pretoria. The co-
Fama Helicopters is also working with Zulu Aviation to establish a facility to assemble the helicopters from major components. This will help to relieve some of the burden on the Italian factory, which is currently facing a long waiting list.
The list price for the fixed-
Operating cost are in the region of R700 per hour, excluding fuel.