The flight laboratory on the basis of the IL-76 aircraft UAC has been preparing for testing less than a year. Employees of the Gromov Flight Research Institute, PJSC "IL" and JSC Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG. Flight implementation was entrusted to the pilots of the School of Test Pilots of the Gromov Flight Research Institute.

The first flight of the Il-76LL flying laboratory with an experimental engine TV7-117ST took place on September 12 at the Gromov Flight Research Institute (Zhukovsky, Moscow region). During the first test flight, the operation of the power plant was tested in full-scale conditions, in different modes and ranges of heights. As a result of the flight, which lasted just over 1 hour, there were no comments on engine performance or faults. The flight was performed by the crew of test pilot Mikhail Kondratenko.

For the first time, the flying IL-76 laboratory with the TV7-117ST engine installed on it (the forced modification of the TV7-117SM engine) was demonstrated to the general public in July at the MAKS-2017 airshow, here in Zhukovsky.

TV7-117ST is the basic engine for the power plant of the promising light military transport aircraft Il-112V. At the same time, the civil modification of the engine - TV7-117ST-01 - will become the regular engine of the regional passenger aircraft Il-114-300, the resumption of series production of which is planned in the coming years.

The engine TV7-117ST-01 will be certified in accordance with civil norms. More powerful in comparison with TV7-117SM (also previously developed "UEC-Klimov"), the engine TV7-117ST-01, in particular, will increase the carrying capacity of IL-114-300, reduce the distance of the takeoff of the aircraft. The use of a unified engine on IL-112V and IL-114-300 aircraft will help reduce costs in production and will be an example of the transfer of military technology to the civilian sector. More about the Il-112V project

The TV7-117 family also includes TV7-117C engines and a TV7-117V helicopter engine, installed on a new Mi-38 helicopter. The TV7-117V engine made it possible for the Mi-38 helicopter to improve flight safety, including in extreme situations, by introducing emergency regimes with a capacity of up to 3,750 hp, and extending the range of applications, including by reducing fuel consumption. UEC has signed a contract with the holding company Russian Helicopters to supply 50 TV7-117V engines for installation on Mi-38 helicopters. Work on the organization of serial production of TV7-117B is fully deployed at the new production site of Klimov JSC in St. Petersburg.

Also on the engines TV7-117V installed a new digital electronic control and monitoring system of the FADEC type with the digital block of the new generation BARK-6B designed and manufactured by JSC "Klimov". The electronic control system BARK-65STM for TV7-117ST is also built on the basis of BARK-6V. Adaptation to this type of engine is carried out by software development. Now the ACS manages not only the engine, but also the propeller, that is, the entire power plant of the aircraft.

The engine TV7-117ST laid modern design solutions, increasing its flight performance. The maximum takeoff power is 3000 hp, in the extreme emergency mode it is 3600 hp. With a dry mass of not more than 500 kg, the engine has a specific fuel consumption of less than 200 grams per hp. at one hour.

As part of the power plant, the TV7-117ST engine works in conjunction with the AB112 propeller (developed by PJSC "NPP Aerosila"), which has more performance and allows for an increase in frontal thrust. One of the features of the TV7-117ST is that the automatic control system created by the "UEC-Klimov" not only controls the engine, but also the propeller, that is, the entire power plant of the aircraft. This joint control allows the maximum use of the potential of the characteristics of the engine and propeller and, in general, increases the efficiency of the power plant.

The engines of the TV7-117ST are assembled completely from the Russian parts, components and components. Their production is carried out in the wide cooperation of the enterprises of the JDC, which, in addition to the JSC "UEC-Klimov", includes JSC The Chernyshev Moscow Machine-Building Enterprise, JSC “Gas-Turbine Engineering RPC “Salut”, JSC UEC-STAR. Stand tests of the TV7-117ST engine on the modernized test facility "UEC-Klimov" started in September 2016. The booth's capabilities allow testing the power plant at once with a screw, nacelle and other elements of the aircraft (wing parts and fuselage). In the course of modernization, the complex, originally built as experimental for testing helicopter power units, was equipped with modern instrumentation. At the present time, various types of ground tests of TV7-117ST (including resource ones) are continuing. More about the beginning of bench tests TV7-117ST

Immediately after landing, the commander of the IL-76LL crew, Mikhail Kondratenko, reported on the first flight to the officials who were present at the Gromov LII flight field, among which were: UAC Chief Designer Sergey Korotkov, Vice-President for Transport Aviation of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation Director of the Ilyushin Aviation Complex Alexey Rogozin, General Director of JSC "UEC" Alexander Artyukhov, General Designer of the DCC Yury Shmotin, Executive Director of JSC "UEC-Klimov" Alexander Vatagin, General Designer "UEC-Klimov" Aleksey Grigorev, General Director of FSUE Central Institute of Aviation Motors by Mikhail Gordin.

"Technically, TV7-117ST is the best Russian engine for regional and medium-haul civil and military aircraft," said Alexander Vatagin, executive director of JSC "UEC-Klimov". "We are proud that, by creating better solutions, we form the direction for further development of the industry, expand the capabilities of Russian technologies, and increase their competitiveness in the world market."

"Testing the TV7-117ST engine is an important stage in the creation of a new light IL-112V military transport aircraft and an IL-114-300 passenger aircraft, which is necessary for the expansion of regional transport in our country. The new engine will significantly increase the competitiveness of these aircraft, " - Sergey Korotkov said.

"The tests of the engine on the flying laboratory were preceded by serious preparations. The engine developer "UEC-Klimov" carried out a set of works aimed at eliminating dangerous failures. CIAM conducted an examination of the results of these works and issued an opinion on the possibility of safe testing of the TV7-117ST engine on an experimental aircraft aircraft. The Institute developed recommendations and requirements for the safe conduct of tests. And today the first tests of this engine on the flying laboratory IL-76LL in the Gromov Flight Research Institute, "- said the Director General of the FSUE "Central Institute of Aviation Motors "(part of the Research Center of Zhukovsky Scientific Research Centre) Mikhail Gordin.

"We have provided for 20 flights at the flying IL-76LL laboratory in all ranges of speeds and heights required for Il-112V and Il-114 aircraft. We plan to complete them within two months, after which the engine will be ready for flights as part of the Il-112V aircraft. The certification of this power plant is planned for 2020, "Yury Shmotin said.