Z-8 and Z-18 transport helicopter - family & versions
- Thread starter Costas 240GD
- Start date
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Habs it's a new design. It takes years of testing to identify problems in new designs and then establish a production tooling and manufacturing line. soonest such for Z20 might happen would be 2020
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Now THAT is a outstanding shot
But just to think that China next medium helicopter is going to based on a design 30 years old which could serve for another 30 years?? Well I guess if it works why change
If only we had a Z-19 and Z-10 in black camo that would look awesome
China's next LHA could hugely benefit from these medium lift helos and add in Z-9, Z-15, Z-19 and Z-10 and we have a the helo situation totally covered for all tonnages and missions
But just to think that China next medium helicopter is going to based on a design 30 years old which could serve for another 30 years?? Well I guess if it works why change
If only we had a Z-19 and Z-10 in black camo that would look awesome
China's next LHA could hugely benefit from these medium lift helos and add in Z-9, Z-15, Z-19 and Z-10 and we have a the helo situation totally covered for all tonnages and missions
it looks like Z-18 is already going to take over that role. The production level for Z-8/18s have been really high in recent years.
I think Z-20 will enter service quite a bit sooner than 2020. I'm going to pin it at within two years.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
The speed of induction depends on two things the requirement and design
This dictates how many prototypes you require and that returns the data you need to narrow down the design parameters
So far we have only ever seen one prototype of Z-20, so progress must be quite slow unless they unveil like 4 more this year I would say that its project might take a few years
Having said that China has done ok with helos in the past so as such could gather the data it needs with a few prototypes finalise the design and move on to production
Either way I doubt it's going be a quick fix this is going to take time
But the fact they are doing cold high altitude testing tells me the project is progressing far along as these tests are towards the end of the development programme
This dictates how many prototypes you require and that returns the data you need to narrow down the design parameters
So far we have only ever seen one prototype of Z-20, so progress must be quite slow unless they unveil like 4 more this year I would say that its project might take a few years
Having said that China has done ok with helos in the past so as such could gather the data it needs with a few prototypes finalise the design and move on to production
Either way I doubt it's going be a quick fix this is going to take time
But the fact they are doing cold high altitude testing tells me the project is progressing far along as these tests are towards the end of the development programme
Perhabs the reason for the low profile of the Z-20 is that they fear that Sikorsky in America will sue.
I don't think this helicopter needs a extremely long development period. Its basically a transport helicopter with few sophisticated subsystems. But as with all Chinese aerospace related projects you have to ask what kind of engines are they using for this helicopter.
I don't think this helicopter needs a extremely long development period. Its basically a transport helicopter with few sophisticated subsystems. But as with all Chinese aerospace related projects you have to ask what kind of engines are they using for this helicopter.
Keep in mind I think that is not a standard US army black hawk, but a special mission one. Either for SOF or CSAR. I think standard US UH-60Ms lack the external multimode radar.
Yes but I choose this one since it was simply the first nearly-exact side image I was able to find and since the Z-20 also has a radar.
By the way I don't think it's a US special mission bird but simply an Austrian S-70A-42 ().
Otherwise You are correct.
Deino