Z-8 and Z-18 transport helicopter - family & versions

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Z-9 will continue on serving on ships with smaller flight decks, those that anything bigger than Z-9 would not fit to operate.

Still, it's hard to imagine that the Super Frelon bloodline can live on this long, when everywhere else outside China it has long been replaced.

I actually wonder about the footprint and hangar space necessary to support a Z-9 vs a Z-20. I think there is a chance that ships which field Z-9s (and Ka-28s incidentally) may be capable of fielding a Z-20 as well.

As for Super Frelon longevity, that is true to an extent but it isn't alone. Ch-53K is the latest variant of the Ch-53 family whose original first flew in the early 1960s as well, not to mention Chinooks.
 

jobjed

Captain
I actually wonder about the footprint and hangar space necessary to support a Z-9 vs a Z-20. I think there is a chance that ships which field Z-9s (and Ka-28s incidentally) may be capable of fielding a Z-20 as well.

As for Super Frelon longevity, that is true to an extent but it isn't alone. Ch-53K is the latest variant of the Ch-53 family whose original first flew in the early 1960s as well, not to mention Chinooks.

Physically speaking, I think the older ships can host Z-20s but the margin of error in landing precision would be hair-raisingly small and I don't think the PLAN would approve of such landings except in emergencies. When those older ships have their MLUs, I wouldn't be surprised if they get their aft lengthened.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
Still, it's hard to imagine that the Super Frelon bloodline can live on this long, when everywhere else outside China it has long been replaced.

As for Super Frelon longevity, that is true to an extent but it isn't alone. Ch-53K is the latest variant of the Ch-53 family whose original first flew in the early 1960s as well, not to mention Chinooks.
Ch53K has as much in common with Ch53E as FA18E does FA18D that is to say it's name only.
Increasing ch47F is the same a new aircraft mascurating as an update of an older one.
I suspect increasingly the same is becoming true for Z8. This latest variant has a new hull, new tail and the AC313 already changed large portions of the avionics and automotive parts.
 

gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
Ch53K has as much in common with Ch53E as FA18E does FA18D that is to say it's name only.
Increasing ch47F is the same a new aircraft mascurating as an update of an older one.
I suspect increasingly the same is becoming true for Z8. This latest variant has a new hull, new tail and the AC313 already changed large portions of the avionics and automotive parts.

Yeah no kidding. Just look at the power rating of the CH-53K engines vs the CH-53E engines. It's not even in the same performance segment. It is almost 2x more powerful.
 

by78

General
A nice magazine scan of Z-8CJ...

(2048 x 1414)
46539679181_5449b97b76_k.jpg
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
I didn’t realise AC313 was so large

But did they ever enter serial production? It’s been almost a decade since it first appeared
 

Dizasta1

Senior Member
So let me get this straight, Z-20s are for medium transport and will replace the Z-9s. Whereas Z-8Ls are heavy transport and will eventually replace Mi-17s? And what or why isn't the AC-313s introduced in the military? Do they not fulfill some segment of the military transport helicopter requirements?
 

mys_721tx

Junior Member
Registered Member
So let me get this straight, Z-20s are for medium transport and will replace the Z-9s. Whereas Z-8Ls are heavy transport and will eventually replace Mi-17s?

Z-9 is in the same class as UH-1. It won't be replaced completely by Z-20.

And what or why isn't the AC-313s introduced in the military? Do they not fulfill some segment of the military transport helicopter requirements?

Isn't Z-18 essentially the military variant of AC313? I suspect the difference in sizes between Z-8L and AC313 are merely artifacts from different perspectives.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
So let me get this straight, Z-20s are for medium transport and will replace the Z-9s. Whereas Z-8Ls are heavy transport and will eventually replace Mi-17s? And what or why isn't the AC-313s introduced in the military? Do they not fulfill some segment of the military transport helicopter requirements?
Correct. Z9 sits at the high end of a light helicopter Z20 And Blackhawk sit at the low end of the medium lift helicopter and Super Ferlon sits at the high end of the Medium lift.
Z-9 is in the same class as UH-1. It won't be replaced completely by Z-20.
Doctrine comes in here. The USMC for example never abandoned UH1 series despite the larger more capable UH60.
The smaller chopper is sometimes better suited so some missions like scout attack.
Isn't Z-18 essentially the military variant of AC313? I suspect the difference in sizes between Z-8L and AC313 are merely artifacts from different perspectives.
The hull form is boat shaped. That means much of that space is for flotation.
 
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