TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Z20 seems to be MIA, and Z18 is a heavier weight class.
Chinese Aviation Industry
- Thread starter FriedRiceNSpice
- Start date
Nope, chinese variant of ec175 programme, now dubbed ac352, and not z15 anymore, was supposed to fly for the first time in 2014. As far as i can tell, that hasn't happened. ec175 did fly in 2009 but that's another variant, with a different engine. Chinese variant will have a domestic engine developed from french ardiden engine. I would say it's unlikely certification and service entry will happen before 2016.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
but compare to the Z20 which was a one hit wonder. showed once then poof! may have made a cameo in another picture but no encore showing no repeat performance just gone had it's 15 minutes and headlines but then vanished back into the either. If your banking on Z20 hope your patient going to be waiting a loooonnng time.
I'm pretty sure that the Z-20 will enter service. Why else would Harbin build that helicopter ?
I don't know when production exactly started but this is photo was found on the forum posts and claim it to be one from early last year. However after digging around this photo was actually published in articles that were as back as sometime in 2010. So it could be possible that production has started back then but won't explain why there's no photos of maiden flights. China was initially offered by Airbus Helicopter for a joint venture because of the market and financing while China hoped for a helicopter to replace it older fleets probably the Z-9s and Mi-8s. But because the program seems to be slow it's possible that the multiple helicopters is putting a heavy weight and probably a lesser priority. So Z-9s, Mil-8 and Mil-17s are here to stay for quite some time.
Maybe the reason that the Chinese version of this helicopter hasn't flown yet is because of the WZ-16 turboshaft engine. It is only recently that the engine has come into production. The first Z-15 flying in China will be with the WZ-16 and no other engine. Airbus in Europe wants to sell this helicopter on mass in China. The Chinese allow them to sell their helicopter in China but they want a payoff for it and that payoff is in my view the WZ-16 turboshaft engine. That engine is at this point years ahead of what China can build on its own. China now has a first rate turboshaft engine thanks to French input. At least that's my reading of it.
I don't know when production exactly started but this is photo was found on the forum posts and claim it to be one from early last year. However after digging around this photo was actually published in articles that were as back as sometime in 2010. So it could be possible that production has started back then but won't explain why there's no photos of maiden flights. China was initially offered by Airbus Helicopter for a joint venture because of the market and financing while China hoped for a helicopter to replace it older fleets probably the Z-9s and Mi-8s. But because the program seems to be slow it's possible that the multiple helicopters is putting a heavy weight and probably a lesser priority. So Z-9s, Mil-8 and Mil-17s are here to stay for quite some time.
I wonder if the French can stop China using that engine for other purposes then the Z-15, lets say the WZ-10.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
That picture of the fully assembled skeleton could be Chinese version of EC175 and Z-15 itself might be of slightly different configuration
After all EC175 is a civilian helo not a military helo and if China want a military version they will have to go alone and make modifications
So EC175 the Chinese version maybe be quite far along but the Z-15 of Chinese military might be the PT01 and PT02 units
After all EC175 is a civilian helo not a military helo and if China want a military version they will have to go alone and make modifications
So EC175 the Chinese version maybe be quite far along but the Z-15 of Chinese military might be the PT01 and PT02 units
Lots of stringers and longerons,,, the wing is going to attach above the fuselage and inside that fairing, a little odd to say the least???but the wing will not pass through the fuse, kinda looks like the Tin Goose construction has been revitalized for this baby. outdated, but no doubt functional, in this day of uni-body carbon fiber to see what looks more like a "battle ship" style is a little shocking?
It must be very difficult to estimate the loads when landing on waves so maybe they are trying to make it as strong as possible based on previous examples of sea planes. There is also a limited market for these planes such as rescuing subs and firefighting so maybe they are being careful about applying bleeding edge tech so they don't blow their budget.
broadsword
Brigadier
I wonder if it is just to keep the wing as high above the water as possible.