Z-20 (all variants) thread

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
Old doesn't mean obsolete.
American and most Blackhawks in service have been heavily modernized. With the Latest having new engines and upgraded controls including fly by wire either already installed or in the works. Engine estimates of the Latest versions are a close match to those of the suspect type used in the Z20. But the additional rotor blade and more modern streamlined body does give and edge to Z20. Thirty years of industry improvement across the globe has to count for something.
Although I doubt "Way better" as long as they are using a conventional chopper configuration.
Yes if does have issues at the highest of altitudes but even Chinook gets winded up there.
If It ain't broke don't fix it.

The PLA though deemed that there existing systems needed a replacement. And they seem to have optimized there package for those higher altitude.
It might be interesting if a naval Z20 ended up ditching things like the 5 blades for more simplicity.

The Chinese have floated licencing Mi26, but that's like the AN226 of helicopters. Yeah it can take you just about anywhere but is the juice worth the squeeze? I mean fuel and maintenance are a real pain for a platform that is only absolutely needed once in a while.
Chinnok and King stallion are smaller and slightly more practical although I always felt the Chinnok configuration was under used.
The "Hooker's" random rotor makes it the fastest chopper in US inventory it lends itself for transport and cargo by basically necessity of demanding a Bus shaped hull. As is the indigisinous big daddy of the PLA is Z18 which is about the same size as a Hip or Osprey.
 

goat89

New Member
Registered Member
Old doesn't mean obsolete.
American and most Blackhawks in service have been heavily modernized. With the Latest having new engines and upgraded controls including fly by wire either already installed or in the works. Engine estimates of the Latest versions are a close match to those of the suspect type used in the Z20. But the additional rotor blade and more modern streamlined body does give and edge to Z20. Thirty years of industry improvement across the globe has to count for something.
Although I doubt "Way better" as long as they are using a conventional chopper configuration.
Yes if does have issues at the highest of altitudes but even Chinook gets winded up there.
If It ain't broke don't fix it.

The PLA though deemed that there existing systems needed a replacement. And they seem to have optimized there package for those higher altitude.
It might be interesting if a naval Z20 ended up ditching things like the 5 blades for more simplicity.

The Chinese have floated licencing Mi26, but that's like the AN226 of helicopters. Yeah it can take you just about anywhere but is the juice worth the squeeze? I mean fuel and maintenance are a real pain for a platform that is only absolutely needed once in a while.
Chinnok and King stallion are smaller and slightly more practical although I always felt the Chinnok configuration was under used.
The "Hooker's" random rotor makes it the fastest chopper in US inventory it lends itself for transport and cargo by basically necessity of demanding a Bus shaped hull. As is the indigisinous big daddy of the PLA is Z18 which is about the same size as a Hip or Osprey.
Simplication of a platform is due to tough conidtions of the sea? As in sea salt?
 

Gloire_bb

Captain
Registered Member
Old doesn't mean obsolete.
American and most Blackhawks in service have been heavily modernized. With the Latest having new engines and upgraded controls including fly by wire either already installed or in the works.
It is worth remembering, though, what blackhawk replacement is steadily gaining the wind.
If US army helicopter procurement won't fail yet again, it may happen fairly quickly.
And the new standart will be far away from the good old s-60.
 

goat89

New Member
Registered Member
It is worth remembering, though, what blackhawk replacement is steadily gaining the wind.
If US army helicopter procurement won't fail yet again, it may happen fairly quickly.
And the new standart will be far away from the good old s-60.
S-60? you mean the original S-70, otherwise its the skycrane haha ><
But yes, it will be interesting to keep an eye on the US Army helo programme. I keep seeing talk of a tiltrotor replacement though - namely the Bell V-280 Valor. But thats OT in another thread ;)
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
Simplication of a platform is due to tough conidtions of the sea? As in sea salt?
Partially but also because naval helicopters are just that naval. Operating at sea level so they don't need to be has optimized for high altitudes.
There is also sea conditions and the need to fold rotors to fit in the hanger
It is worth remembering, though, what blackhawk replacement is steadily gaining the wind.
If US army helicopter procurement won't fail yet again, it may happen fairly quickly.
And the new standart will be far away from the good old s-60.
H60, S70. I am well aware. But the U.S. is being conservative on timeline and also even now new orders are coming in keeping the Blackhawk line hot.
S-60? you mean the original S-70, otherwise its the skycrane haha ><
But yes, it will be interesting to keep an eye on the US Army helo programme. I keep seeing talk of a tiltrotor replacement though - namely the Bell V-280 Valor. But thats OT in another thread ;)
two options there is also the SB>1 Defiant. But like you said OT.
 

BagPiper

New Member
Registered Member
I'm surprised it's still behind curtains. Even J20, which is something all countries would keep secretive, is made public a while ago. Z20 is still in the shadows, only leaving us very few pics and we're not even sure which is legit or which were photoshopped.
 

gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
It is likely a combination of not having enough production, most of the units that are available being stationed in the sparser regions of the interior of China where there are few photographers, and perhaps not enough confidence in its reliability yet.
 
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