Z-20 (all variants) thread

I am not sure if it's really secrecy Jay. I think it's more of fans not being as interested. I mean J20 is sexy Sleek and the wet Dream of China Fanboi come true. J31 the same.
Z20 by contrast is more or less every thing the Fanboi don't want. a clone, a visible knockoff. I mean I have gone to bat for it because It is a very practical machine and has some unique ideas but at it's core it is a Chinese Take on a proven machine, The S70 Blackhawk sold to the PRC in the 1980's is it's obvious parent, Its not revolutionary its not "China blazing new trails" it's a proven practical piece of the mundane. A Utility machine.
Where Z10 and Z19 take great strides and Show the Chinese makers can walk there own path and build a aggressive machine.
Z20 is not that, it's a utility machine.
My bet on the secrecy is more a lack of interest combined with the PLAAF likely testing it in the remote reaches of Chinese territory not because of want of seclusion but likely as the PLA trials it in the extreme environs of the Tibetan Hindu kush, and the dry sands of the Gobi.

Bet you if it was a comanche type attack helo there would be a lot more interest among the netizens.

JayBird said:

I kind of don't get the secrecy with the Z-20 program. We hardly get any clear pictures of it compared to even J-20 when it first appear. I mean is just a Chinese version of modified Blackhawk.

I get not many military fans interested in this not very sexy helicopter so therefore not as many spotters try to get Z-20 pics. But we should still have a lot more clear pictures of it by now. It's Z-20 test flight in some remote base or what?

Click to expand...

My question is, if it is a rehash of Mi-17 components into UH-60 form, can it really impart much performance or other practical improvement?

PanAsian said:

My question is, if it is a rehash of Mi-17 components into UH-60 form, can it really impart much performance or other practical improvement?

Click to expand...

What makes you say Z-20 is using Mi-17 components? I've heard nothing of such claims.

As for improvements; qualitatively Z-20 will likely be more modern than the older S-70s the PLA are still operating, and from what we've heard it may also have a larger cabin as well. But most important for the chinese military, is that Z-20 means more airframes can be produced indigenously with the entire process done in China, so more helicopters can be inducted. It can also serve as the common airframe for a heavier shipborne ASW helicopter which may be able to fit in current helicopter hangars sized for Z-9 and Kamovs as well.

I see Z-20's relationship to S-70s and Mi-17 similar to Y-20s relationship to Il-76s. In both cases, China already has a number of utility helicopters (in S-70 and Mi-17) as well as strategic transports (Il-76s), however they are also all limited in being ageing airframes, produced non indigenously, and more importantly they are all in service in limited numbers.

Therefore, Z-20 and Y-20 are both being developed with more modern components and revised designs for the same general mission but with different performance compared to their older in-service peers, and success of both projects will allow China to finally satisfy the demand for utility helicopters and strategic transports that the military still had as it could not be satisfied through only S-70 and Mi-17 variants, and Il-76, respectively. Indigenous production of both will also mean a far easier process to develop new variants for all kinds of unique missions including ASW, CSAR, SOF, for Z-20, and tanker, AEW&C, airborne testbed for Y-20.

why always only on trucks ...?

Deino said:

why always only on trucks ...?

View attachment 19408

Click to expand...

The Fishman just caught a huge whale of the year.

Deino said:

why always only on trucks ...?

View attachment 19408

Click to expand...

It is said that IL-76 is not big enough to carry Z-20 to the plateau for high land test. And Z-20 is too high to put on a train. So it is on truck.

ladioussupp said:

It is said that IL-76 is not big enough to carry Z-20 to the plateau for high land test. And Z-20 is too high to put on a train. So it is on truck.

Click to expand...

That is kind of strange, given they were able to transport S-70s via modified Y-8s all those decades ago. I find it hard to imagine Il-76 cannot carry an only marginally larger Z-20, or that Z-20 is too large for a train...

Hmmm

Bltizo said:

That is kind of strange, given they were able to transport S-70s via modified Y-8s all those decades ago. I find it hard to imagine Il-76 cannot carry an only marginally larger Z-20, or that Z-20 is too large for a train...

Hmmm

Click to expand...

Maybe Z-20 is actually a little bigger than S-70? I remember someone did mention Z-20 seem to be more "fat" than S-70 in chinese forum.

JayBird said:

Maybe Z-20 is actually a little bigger than S-70? I remember someone did mention Z-20 seem to be more "fat" than S-70 in chinese forum.

Click to expand...

I'm sure it is a bit larger, but by such an extent that it can't be carried by an Il-76 or on a train even? hmmm.