That last image is triggering my trigger disipline.Three more screen grabs...
Z-8 and Z-18 transport helicopter - family & versions
- Thread starter Costas 240GD
- Start date
by78
General
Look closely. They are dummy training rifles.
Oh yeah, you're right. But it's still good to have trigger discipline no matter what it is. It's safer than sorry.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
would like to start seeing larger Naval Z8L on board the LHD + Carriers
Chinese news has reported this, it is called "iron bird", the AC313 (Civil Z8) system verification platform, or test platform. It is not a real plane.
by78
General
It's the AC313A, which is the civilian version of the Z-8L. I posted about this about two years ago, although at the time I didn't know it was based on the Z-8L because that designation was still unknown.
AC313A is an improved civilian variant of the Z-8. Bullet points are as follows:
- Optimized engine layout, reducing engine installation loss (?) by more than 3%.
- New high-performance engine with improved lifespan and performance.
- Can operate 200% longer when carrying an external load of five tons, with great-than-40% high-altitude carrying capacity.
- Implemented HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System) and anti-icing system, improved safety, now capable of operating across all terrains and geographies.
- Better ease of maintenance, improved efficiency, reduced life-cycle cost.
superdog
Junior Member
As stated by @by78, this is a test platform for AC313A. Besides some subsystem improvements, the most notable difference to current Z8L would be the use of new engines/transmission and new engine layout. The new triangular layout would be similar to the EH101. Compared to the "staggered" layout of Super Frelon and previous Z8, a triangular layout offers improved output efficiency at the cost of taking up more horizontal space. Perhaps it wasn't possible with the narrow body Z8, but with the new wide body it is only natural to take advantage of the more efficient layout. If you scroll up for the Z8L frontal picture a few posts ago, you'll see the engine bay has some unused width and it doesn't fit very well to the wide body. In that sense one may think that Z8L is only an intermediate evolution, while the AC313A would be closer to the "final form".
I think it is quite likely they will follow up with an AC313A based Z8(?) for future military orders, but for now we can wait patiently.
