First Flight For China's First Light Helicopter

First Flight For China’s First Light Helicopter

Editorial Staff

Monday, November 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

China's first domestically developed light civilian helicopter, the AC311 by Avicopter, recently made its maiden flight.
The AC311 features composite rotors, highly integrated avionics, and can be powered by a Honeywell or Chinese engine, aiming for 2012 certification in China.
Avicopter expects to sell up to 500 units of the AC311 over the next decade and is also developing other helicopters, including the larger AC313 and a joint heavy-lift project with Russia.

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The AC311 light civilian helicopter, the first of its kind to be developed and manufactured in China, flew for the first time last week, Xinhua has reported. The aircraft is being developed by Avicopter, which is a part of the China Aviation Industry Corp., or AVIC. Avicopter said the rotors are composite, and can be powered by a Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 engine or a Chinese turbine engine, the WZ-8D. The avionics are “highly integrated,” the company said. Avicopter said it has two customers so far for the helicopter, but expects to sell up to 500 copies over the next 10 years. The helicopter is on track to be certified in China in 2012.

Earlier this year, the company also flew a large helicopter for the first time, the AC313, which can hold up to 27 passengers and two crew. Also, Avicopter reportedly is working on a joint program with a Russian company to produce a large helicopter that would weight up to 35 tons.