February 2012
Rotorwing News
  • OH-58D/AVX new approach to the rotorcraft industry:
  • 1 February 2012

  • By Various

  • The AVX Aircraft Company, was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The management, engineering team and board of directors, combined have extensive experience in aviation, business and engineering disciplines.

    AVX’s aeronautical engineering team alone is said to have over 400 years of collective experience in the rotorcraft industry, including senior level management experience at companies such as Bell Helicopter Textron.

    Increased performance

    The company has developed a unique compound helicopter configuration that combines proven technologies to achieve greater aerodynamic efficiency, speed, range, fuel efficiency, HOGE, utility and the ability to operate in higher altitudes and hotter temperatures than conventional helicopters. The key technical features of AVX Technology are counter rotating coaxial rotors and dual ducted propulsion fans.

    Cost competiveness

    AVX Technology not only vastly improves performance of existing helicopters when modified, but does so at a significantly lower cost for both installation of components and in fuel savings during operation. When existing helicopters are modified with AVX Technology, it reduces fuel consumption anywhere from 20% to 30% depending on operating parameters.

    Lower risk

    AVX Technology performance upgrade components are based on proven technologies designed by highly experienced engineers in a process managed by experienced aerospace executives. Modifying existing fleets of helicopters with AVX Technology is claimed to be the lowest risk and lowest cost solution to achieving increased performance at a low cost.

    The company is develo-ping a high performance, next-generation family of helicopters that incorporates leap-ahead rotorcraft technology©.

    Utilizing coaxial, counter rotating rotors, and rear, laterally displaced ducted fans, AVX uses a unique and cost effective horizontally integrated manufacturing and assembly strategy working with vendors such as Aurora Flight Sciences, Eagle Aviation Technologies, Rotating Composites, Continuum Dynamics, and AdvancedTechnologies.

    This approach enables AVX to control costs from a pricing, manufacturing and development standpoint.

    AVX filed provisional patents in 2007 and 2008.

    Design patents were granted in May 2009. Utility patents are pending and additional patents are being filed. In addition to a proposed modification for the U.S. Army OH58D, AVX Aircraft Company is one of four companies under contract with the U.S. Army to conduct CTA studies on the development of the future Joint Multirole (JMR helicopter.

    Additionally, AVX Aircraft Company has developed several designs for commercial use as well as personal use.

    AVX Technology is extremely flexible and can be applied to almost any helicopter increasing performance, safety and at the lowest cost.

    The OH-58D/AVX Configuration

    The OH58D AVX Configuration is an innovative design using proven technologies that significantly improves performance, handling characteristics, speed and endurance of the current OH-58D. The necessary modifications can be done at an economical price point as well.

    In fact the cost of this upgrade is offset by fuel efficiencies and life extension of the airframe. The AVX configuration combines proven counter-rotating coaxial rotor technology with proven ducted fan technology to produce a much more efficient hover capability with higher speed,range and endurance.

    For example, an AVX coaxial rotor helicopter that provides the same lift as a single rotor helicopter requires only 80-85% of the power required by the single rotor helicopter. By adding the ducted fans to the coaxial main rotor the speed, range and endurance capability are also significantly increased.

    The OH58D AVX project will benefit the nation and United States Army aviation by rapidly producing a relatively low cost performance upgrade for the OH-58D, which is presently unable to adequately perform its mission at the altitudes and temperatures in the current warzones.

    Ultimately, the enhanced performance will save lives of soldiers who rely on the support provided by the armed scout helicopters.

    The OH58D AVX configuration with a 37ft diameter coaxial main rotor + dual ducted fans offers:

    • HOGE at 5500lb, 6000ft/95°F
    • 120 Knot Cruise Speed at IRP
    • 445 km Range at 6000ft/95°F
    • 3.1 Hours of Endurance at 6000ft/95°F
    • Acceptable Autorotation Capability at 5500lb and 6000 ft/95°F
    • Potential Reduction in “Brown Out” Susceptibility
    • Reduced Detectability (No Tail Rotor Noise)

    The OH58D AVX Configuration also offers an enhanced degree of safety in operation and design. Materials used in manufacture of the OH 58D AVX components make the aircraft more battle damage survivable and repairable than current designs. Additionally with the co-axial counter rotating main rotors there is no longer a need for a tail rotor to offset torque. This puts less strain on the fuselage, makes pilot workload lighter and means the loss of tail fans is not a catastrophic event.

    AVX Aircraft Company is currently focused on modifying the U.S. Army’s Kiowa Warrior OH-58D into an AVX configuration for a concept demonstrator. Eventually, AVX will seek a production contract with the Army to modify the fleet of OH-58Ds to the AVX configuration, which would provide the Army warfighter with the significantly improved performance capabilities.