PLA Army's transport helicopters

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
How cool! I hope it becomes a reality.

View attachment 38760

I personally do not. The design/configuration of the concept (the one closest to the camera) is not very efficient in terms of volume and would be difficult to fold for adapting into a naval variant.

I expect AVIC to develop a new generation helicopter eventually whether it's a coaxial+pusher propeller or some kind of tilt rotor or they may develop both, but a combined pusher propeller+non tilting rotor is not a very efficient use of aircraft weight and volume in my opinion
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
How cool! I hope it becomes a reality.

140217exfdihakaheffkaa-png.38760
It's called a Transverse rotor configuration although this one has been modified with the addition of pushers.
We also see the older propeller nosed chopper model on display.
 

Akkarin

New Member
Registered Member
I personally do not. The design/configuration of the concept (the one closest to the camera) is not very efficient in terms of volume and would be difficult to fold for adapting into a naval variant.

I expect AVIC to develop a new generation helicopter eventually whether it's a coaxial+pusher propeller or some kind of tilt rotor or they may develop both, but a combined pusher propeller+non tilting rotor is not a very efficient use of aircraft weight and volume in my opinion

Edit: There is also a discussion about it in the X-plane thread. Maybe it can be merged ?
Also, does anybody have a source for the image ?


While the transverse rotor configuration does have disadvantages (higher weight, higher volume), it also has a few advantages that make it usefull.

Compared to traditional helicopters:

1. It has no tailrotor, which usually needs up to 10% of your engine power

2. It has smaller rotors, a push prop and wings. This means that it has a higher maximum speed and is more efficent when flying. (as opposed to hovering.)

These are exactly the same advantages the US also looks for in the FVL/JMR/JVX programs. These are absolute gamechangers.

Compared to an S-97/SB>1 concept, which would be much more compact and lighter, it has the following advantages:

1. Its massively simpler. This means its achievable and in a shorter timeframe and also cheaper, at least initially.

2. Just like a tiltrotor, it has wings and this an even lower diskload for higher efficency in flight.


Long term, a coaxial rotor or tiltrotor is probably the better way. But in the meantime a transverse rotor can bring benefits of traditional helicopters and build knowledge for your industry and military.
 

delft

Brigadier
Long term, a coaxial rotor or tiltrotor is probably the better way. But in the meantime a transverse rotor can bring benefits of traditional helicopters and build knowledge for your industry and military.
US chose tilt rotor because of a requirement to fold the aircraft for use on aircraft carriers. When such a requirement doesn't exists the transverse rotor configuration might be acceptable. It hasn't yet been successfull, think V-12 and Ka-22 (
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), but better analysis methods might well solve the problems.
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
China still need a lot of transport helicopter for the airborne brigade. Not sure about the status of new Z18A for the army. Have they start production ? In mean time the work horse of Chinese airborne is still Mi-17. The new version Mi17E can operate in mountainous region as well as dessert condition . It is cheap and good 10-13 million USD per copy . The last order is in 2012. for 52 Mi 17E. No known new order since then. According to Thai defense ministry for the price of 1 Blackhawk you can get 3 Mi 17. Mi 17 proof its worth during Sichuan earthquake. They can easily afford 100 more. At total number of roughly 1200 China is only one quarter of US total number of helicopter

I though China Lantian helicopter has license agreement with
Mil helicopter of Moscow. I guess it come to nothing
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China operate roughly 160 Mi -17
The Russian Helicopter Corporation delivered to China the last of 52 Mi-171E helicopters ordered since 2012. This model can carry up to 37 passengers or four tons of cargo and has engines that are particularly effective under "hot and high" conditions. This is useful for the Chinese, who need equipment that can operate in Tibet (where many areas are at altitudes of over 4,000 meters). China is quite fond of the Mi-17 and the older Mi-8 it is derived from. Currently China operates 160 Mi-171 helicopters. Currently China has about 300 Mi-17/Mi-8 type helicopters

Here is interesting video about Kazan plant that produced Mi 17


Here is article about the latest order
Rosobornexport to supply Mi-171E helicopters to Chinese Air Force

Mi-171E_.jpg

Russian state-arm-exporter Rosoboronexport has signed a contract with Poly Technologies to deliver additional Mil Mi-171E Hip multi-role transport helicopters to the China People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The agreement, signed in August 2012, follows a previous contract signed between Russian Helicopters and Poly Technologies in December 2009 for the production and supply of 32 Mi-171E helicopter along with training support to the Chinese Air Force for transportation purposes, including operations in highland areas.

Under the new contract, Rosoboronexport will supply a total of 52 Mi-171Es to help further improve the air force's tactical airlift capabilities.

The contract value, which was not disclosed by the two companies, is expected to amount between $550m and $660m, according to local media reports.

Built by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP), the Mi-171E is an export variant of Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopter, and is designed to conduct troop and cargo transport, search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions in all weather conditions.

The Chinese versions are integrated with VK-2500-03 engines, SAFIR 5K/G MI auxiliary power units and enhanced transmission systems, on request from PLAAF, to enable operations at higher altitudes including mountainous terrain.

The helicopter also includes search and rescue equipment for conducting special operations during night and low visibility conditions.

Mi-171Es are used by the PLAAF for conducting a broad range of military operations, such as transportation of bulky cargo, passengers, geologic exploration, patrolling, fire fighting, and offshore missions.

The first eight helicopters under the contract will be delivered later this year, while the remaining are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

They even produced ATV to fit in Mi 17
 
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Totoro

Major
VIP Professional
Is there a source out there which is fairly up to date on PLA's transport helos?
How many Mi17, Z8, Z9A and so on?

And how many could be expected from PLAAF and PLAN? Like various utility variants?
 

Curio

New Member
Registered Member
Changhong industry promo "My Dream" nice video and song by Changhong engineer. I guess this folks build helicopter Anybody has info on this company?Are they part of Changfeng motor in Changsa?
I am looking forward for much bigger UAH from Changhong

1602217293884.png
A number of videos here, but I can't get them to run:
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