Aerobuzz is today reporting that Heli Air Design (HAD) have chosen the Mistral G200 rotary engine for their two seat turbine called Helineo.  The sole prototype, which first flew  on April 26th this year at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport is powered by a Solar T62 turbine derived from an APU.  The Solar engine will be retained for a kit version of the Helineo, while the Mistral G200 is needed for the variant certified to EASA CS-27 standards.

The Mistral G200 is a naturally aspirated rotary engine rated for take-off at 200hp  @2,250 rpm and 150hp at 75% cruise at 2,050 rpm.  It displaces 3x654cc per rotor, of which it has two.  See full specifications, dimensions etc here.

HAD has started construction of the second and third aircraft, and is targetting near-final specification by the end of this year.  Some alterations have already been made to the first prototype after its initial flights, and these are expected to be incorporated into the next two airframes – which will also feature a composite fuselage.

HAD took Helineo to the 2012 AirVenture event at Oshkosh, and while it did not fly there, timing was apparently good for identifying potential distributors in the US market.  It will feature at the 2013 Paris Air Show before returning to Oskosh next summer.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com