Z-20 (all variants) thread

[weig2000]

Take these two pictures.

Go to a US Army site, or any US alloied site without telling them anything about where the photo came from, and show them these two photos.

Most of them will believe it is some form or another of Black Hawk.

That may be all most of them say...some with more knowledge about each of the Black Hawks out there will think it is some special duty Black Hawk, modified for some particular set of missions.

Very few will recognize it as a Chinese Z-20.

That's because it looks so very much like a Black Hawk externally that without placing the thought in their minds that it is a completely separate build, without any US or Sirkorsky help, that such a thig would not come to their mind.

Some people may take that an feel like it is somekind of downer or scoff at the Chinese.

To the contrary, to me it says some very good things about the Chinese and their capabilities.

They for sure have created something that is not just a copy. The airframe may look very similar, but clearly they have created a helicopter that will do the things they want done.

The PLA has operated dozens of Black Hawk for decades, and they really love it.

 

[Jeff Head]

The PLA has operated dozens of Black Hawk for decades, and they really love it.

I know that Hong Kong had 20 S-70s for years. Did they keep them during the turn over?

Or does the PLAAF or PLA have some that they got before the embargo?

Either way, now they will have their own custom version!

 

[weig2000]

I know that Hong Kong had 20 S-70s for years. Did they keep them during the turn over?

Or does the PLAAF or PLA have some that they got before the embargo?

Either way, now they will have their own custom version!

Surprised you didn't know this, but Black Hawk is probably the only US defense equipment that PLA operates, if you don't count subsystem like LM2500 on 052.

China got them from the US in the '80s when the two countries were still in some kind of honeymoon phase. Anyway,

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:

China (People's Republic of China)
In December 1983, examples of the

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,

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and Sikorsky S-70A-5 (N3124B) were airlifted to Lhasa for testing. These demonstrations included take-offs and landings at altitudes to 17,000 feet (5,200 m) and en route operations to 24,000 feet (7,300 m). At the end of this testing, the

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purchased 24 S-70C-2s, equipped with more powerful GE T700-701A engines for improved high-altitude performance.

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While designated as civil variants of the S-70 for export purposes, they are operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

 

[Jeff Head]

Surprised you didn't know this, but Black Hawk is probably the only US defense equipment that PLA operates, if you don't count subsystem like LM2500 on 052.

China got them from the US in the '80s when the two countries were still in some kind of honeymoon phase. Anyway,

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:

Ah...I do remember this.

The altitude testing in particular back then.

So they still have all 24 of those too?

Clearly they liked them.

 

[weig2000]

Ah...I do remember this.

The altitude testing in particular back then.

So they still have all 24 of those too?

Clearly they liked them.

A couple of them have crashed and they lost them over the years - not sure how many exactly. For many years, they were the only helicopters PLA had that they could fly over to Tibetan Plateau.

 

[MwRYum]

I know that Hong Kong had 20 S-70s for years. Did they keep them during the turn over?

Or does the PLAAF or PLA have some that they got before the embargo?

Either way, now they will have their own custom version!

HK sold them back to the US in 2002 after the Super Pumas were inducted into the fleet. IIRC for the PLA fleet's of S-70s, no new units were ordered or delivered (obviously) but replacement parts still get delivered. Also, due to its highland operation capabilities, they were concentrated to the southern/southwestern region where the Sichuan and Tibetan plateau are located. And has been the sole model of highland operable units until the delivery of Mi-171.

 

[tphuang]

Ah...I do remember this.

The altitude testing in particular back then.

So they still have all 24 of those too?

Clearly they liked them.

the amazing part is that they still are mostly operational after this many years. PLA like it much better than the Mi-17 helos. They wanted to build their own version of blackhawk for many years, but technology just wasn't there, especially in the engines department.

 

[Deino]

...but technology just wasn't there, especially in the engines department.

And esp. here the question is: what type of engine does the Z-20 use ?

 

[SinoSoldier]

And esp. here the question is: what type of engine does the Z-20 use ?

WZ-10, IIRC.

 

[Deino]

WZ-10, IIRC.

Indeed, that's what is said, but this engine is information-wise nearly as enigmatic as the WP-14 Kunlun.

Deino