Auroa Helicopters Auroa

New Zealand helicopter

Role  | Helicopter

Type of aircraft

National origin | New Zealand
Manufacturer  | Auroa Helicopters Limited
First flight  | 2011
Introduction  | 2013
Status  | In production (2015)

The Auroa Helicopters Auroa is a New Zealand helicopter designed and produced by Auroa Helicopters Limited of Manaia, Taranaki, introduced in 2013. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1]

## Design and development

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The Auroa was designed to comply with the New Zealand and European Class 6 microlight helicopter rules. It features a single main rotor and tail rotor, a two-seats-in side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with a windshield, skid landing gear and a 160 hp (119 kW) Solar T62 turbine engine.[1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from a combination of metal tubing and composites. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of 6 m (19.7 ft). The tail rotor has four blades and a protective ring. The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 310 kg (683 lb) and a gross weight of 600 kg (1,323 lb) (544 kg (1,199 lb) for the microlight class), giving a useful load of 290 kg (639 lb) (234 kg (516 lb) for the microlight class).[1]

Reviewer Werner Pfaendler, describes the design as "elegant".[1]

First flown in 2011, the three prototypes accumulated 130 flying hours by the end of that year.[2]

## Specifications (Auroa)

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Data from Tacke and manufacturer[1][3]

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Capacity: one passenger
* Empty weight: 310 kg (683 lb)
* Gross weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
* Powerplant: 1 × Solar T62 turbine engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
* Main rotor diameter: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)
* Main rotor area: 28.26 m2 (304.2 sq ft)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
* Cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
* Never exceed speed: 170 km/h (100 mph, 90 kn)
* Endurance: 2 hours
* Rate of climb: 6 m/s (1,200 ft/min)
* Disk loading: 21.2 kg/m2 (4.3 lb/sq ft)

## See also

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* List of rotorcraft

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 204. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
2. ^ Auroa Helicopters (2017). "2 seat turbine powered helicopters". auroahelicopters.co.nz. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
3. ^ Auroa Helicopters (2012). "Specs and information" (PDF). auroahelicopters.co.nz. Retrieved 2 December 2017.

## External links

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* Official website
* Animation tour of the Auroa