The Aerokopter company was founded in 1999 with the purpose of creating a design office for creating and experimentally producing a light helicopter. After conducting marketing research, it was decided to create a light two-seat helicopter with a piston engine and an airborne weight of 650-700 kg.
The first experimental helicopter was flown on October 12, 2001. This helicopter was used for many ground and factory tests so that constructional elements could be improved and engineering processes for units and parts could be worked through. The second AK1-3 was flown in July 2003.
For ground tests the design office specialists have developed and created a special stand which can be used to model some flight configurations and experimentally determine the necessary parameters.
In designing and building the first helicopters, the task was being solved of recruiting professionals of all levels for the office, equipping the office with computing machinery and software. In designing the helicopter, modern programming SARP complexes and Auto CAD, NASTRAN, Mechanical Desktop 4, Fluent, Xfoil integrated packages were used, as well as mathematical models worked out by the office staff using modern numerical methods. The helicopter was designed according to AP 27 Normal Category Rotary Wing Flight Suitability Norms.
A large scope of theoretical and experimental research was done due to Aerocopter’s close cooperation with National Aerospace University Named after N.Y. Zhukovskiy “KAI”, the National Academy of Ukraine, and other scientific organizations. Thus, for example, rotor and anti-torque rotor blades, as well as other constructional elements, were tested for static and dynamic strength.
To ensure the reliability of the most responsible units, a close cooperation with the Progress Design Office Named after A.G. Ivchenko, the state-run enterprise PO UMZ Named after A.M. Makarov was established for producing transmission parts, propulsion reduction gear parts.
For pilot production, the Aerokopter factories are equipped with the necessary machinery and manufacturing equipment. The overall square of the company’s workshops and areas exceeds 1200 sq.m, making it possible to produce more than 80% of listed componentry, including the main and anti-torque rotors’ blades from composite materials, and assemble the helicopter.
In 2005 Aerokopter Trade company was established in Kharkov city in order to build a new brand name, to give the factory new customers and to create distributors network over the world.
One year of hard work was enough for the small trading company to double the production of the helicopters.
On 4th of July 2006 helicopter AK1-3 got Ukrainian type certificate.
