RU-MAS (Maslov Design Bureau)

[flateric]

Newbie KB Maslov has shown their RU-MAS 240 chopper teaser. Istead of reposting more images, here's the link to original site http://kbmaslova.ru/A.html

While going on the technical side, Ru-MAS 240 should have some interesting features, like rotors pitch control rods hidden inside hollow drive shaft, jetissoned crew cabin for rescue, etc. Seemingly, we see engineering outsourcing case, as they hire aviation engineers.

While I hardly believe this project (or any other od Maslov's choppers) ever will be completed under current economic conditions, but anyway, this one is interesting.

 

[Triton]

Full-scale RUMAS (Russia Ukraine Maslova) A-245 "Guppy" helicopter prototype mockup on display at MAKS 2009.

Sources:
http://www.technicamolodezhi.ru/rubriki_tm/202/1709
http://www.kbmaslova.ru/
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?99988-Russian-Photos-%28updated-on-regular-basis%29/page1526

 

[redstar72]

It's not a prototype, only a mockup.

 

[Orionblamblam]

jetissoned crew cabin for rescue,

That seems silly. I think it would be a lot easier and a lot lighter to leave the cabin in place, and just blow off the rotors and bring the whole thing down under chutes. I'm not sure how often that would be a better idea than autorotation, though.

 

[Grey Havoc]

They may be thinking of such scenarios as catastrophic engine fires. By the way, I wonder if the system used for the cabin and fuselage is a licensed application of the Ballistic Recovery System? It would seem consistent with the Maslov Bureau's apparent business model for this particular programme.

 

[redstar72]

The new site of the company: http://rumasgroup.cz/

The walkaround of RUMAS-10 helicopter mockup presented at HeliRussia'2012:
http://walkarounds.scalemodels.ru/v/walkarounds/helicopters/rumas_10/

 

[Avimimus]

By the way - it may seem silly to eject an entire crew compartment, but it has a lot of merit if going down in harsh environments where rescue can be delayed (e.g. cold, isolated areas). Keeping wounded crew close to survival gear can be essential in giving them long enough to be retreived.

 

[Bill Walker]

That seems silly. I think it would be a lot easier and a lot lighter to leave the cabin in place, and just blow off the rotors and bring the whole thing down under chutes. I'm not sure how often that would be a better idea than autorotation, though.

I agree that chuting the entire airframe would be simpler. But I don't think autorotation is automatically a better idea. It doesn't help if there are rotor or transmission problems, and many real life autorotations get screwed up in the last few feet. To paraphrase the old joke about twin engines, the purpose of autorotative flight is to deliver you to the crash site.

I do get very nervous when people talk about blowing the rotors off. Timing would be extremely critical with a tandem rotor, a slight delay in blowing one rotor could place the airframe in an unwanted attitude. From that point of view, it might be easier to separate one cabin than to separate two rotors.

And speaking of two rotors, can anyone offer a reason for the different diameters of the two rotors? One of the classic advantages of the tandem rotor is identical hubs, blades and controls front and rear. Simplifies productions, spares, servicing, etc.

 

[Stargazer]

The RU-Mas 245 project. I can't see what really distinguished it from the earlier RU-Mas 240. Dimensions maybe?

 

[Stargazer]

Now designated as the RUMAS A245, at the MAKS-2009 airshow:

 

[Triton]

Mockup of UAEi-based Quest Helicopters AVQ based on RUMAS A245 shown at Dubai Air Show 2011.

Source:
http://missiles2go.ru/2012/02/06/%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%B4%D0%BB%D1%8F-%D0%BE%D0%B0%D1%8D/

 

[Triton]

Mockup of RUMAS 10 on display at HeliRussia 2012.

Source:
http://www.aex.ru/docs/3/2012/5/21/1572/print/

 

[Triton]

Mockup of RUMAS 10F on display at HeliRussia 2012.

Source:
http://www.aex.ru/docs/3/2012/5/21/1572/print/

 

[Stargazer]

Great pics, thanks!

 

[Triton]

http://youtu.be/48H84IOZbIw

 

[Triton]

Mockup of RUMAS 10 at HeliRussia 2012.

Source:
http://skvadim.livejournal.com/15817.html
http://russianplanes.net/id78613
http://russianplanes.net/id78914

 

[flateric]

Chief designer Udovenko, whom project ideolog and investor Maslov literally put out of poverty, decided to run from RU-MAS to - as he thought - rich and powerful Arabian investors, stealing all proprietary design data. After Maslov has arrived to UAE to kinda look at eyes and fix the case, new Udovenko hosts initiated a court case against Maslov blaming him for fraud (don't know a story of Maslov previous relationships with them though) and put him under arrest, so he could not attend HeliRussia 2012 where RU-MAS was exhibited anyway. Oasis blamed Maslov for RU-MAS designs being just fraud non-buildable projects aimed to rise and steal money from investors.


When I've asked anonymous Oasis representative (that reportedly was one of those who left RU-MAS with Udovenko and was a brain center of steal/run idea) why, if projects are fraud, Arabs have hosted Udovenko and him and are promoting them now under new brand, he immediately shut up.

At least that's the story from POW of Maslov.

 

[Stargazer]

WOW. This is very interesting. A few confirmations neeeded here:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Where is Maslov at currently? Still under arrest?
[*]Does the company RU-MAS still exist at all?
[*]Is Oasis the name of Udovenko's UAE-based company?
[/list]

 

[Triton]

Thank you for the information, flateric.

 

[flateric]

Igor Maslov has posted pics of first RUMAS 10 hover at Paralay's forum. Congratulations to RUMAS team that went through harsh seas.

 

[yasotay]

Congrats indeed! I have to be honest that I would not have bet on their getting to this stage.

 

[hesham]

Hi,


the RU-MAS helicopter.

 

[persil]

I have come across three names pointing to pretty much the same helicopter, but are they?

1. RU-MAS 240 (as in the begging of this thread)
2. RU MAS 245
3. RUMAS A-245

I think those are consecutive iterations of the original concept. Based on graphic materials available on the Internet, I think that:

1. RU-MAS 240 is this iteration:
   
   It has round-ish edges of doors, three-cycle landing gear and main rotors resembling those of the french medium helicopters (Star-Flex like)Manufacturer page uses this name as of 2009-05-27 ( https://web.archive.org/web/20090527141456/http://kbmaslova.ru/A.html )
2. RU MAS 245 is this iteration:
   
   It has more square-ish lines, also three-cycle landing gear and a main rotor heads implemented with Aerokopter AK1-3 rotor technology.
3. RUMAS A-245 is this iteration:
   
   It differs to the 245 (without A) by having 4 landing gear legs, which are retractable in flight.

Can you confirm this is correct?

There are still on YT a video presentation of the final iteration (final before it became Quest AVQ, and later Rumas Group Rumas 50):
English:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZfgoDyaclI

Russian:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABdxVwzLuC4


Rumas Group line-up presentation:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H84IOZbIw