Harbin Z-20
| Harbin Z-20 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Medium lift helicopter |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Avicopter |
| First flight | 23 December 2013 |
| Status | Flight testing |
| Primary user | People's Liberation Army |
The Harbin Z-20 or Zhi-20 is a medium lift helicopter produced in the Northeast of China. Its first flight was on 23 December 2013.[1] The helicopter has a maximum takeoff weight in the range of 10 tons,[2] can drop troops at locations of up to 3,000 ft (910 m) altitude, and could operate form the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning.[3] It is thought to be comparable to the US made Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the civilian Sikorsky S-70C-2 variant of which has been used by the People's Liberation Army since 1984.[4] Some sources suggest that the Z-20 is a copy of the Black Hawk[5] and link the design to the Black Hawk that was abandoned by US special forces in Pakistan during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on 1 May 2011.[6] The sources say that Pakistan allowed Chinese officials to examine the Black Hawk wreckage.[7] However, Aviation Week also points out that although some aspects of the design do appear similar, such as the tail wheel arrangement, there are also marked differences. For example, the Chinese Z-20 has a five blade rotor compared with the Black Hawks' four blades.[2]
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
- AgustaWestland AW149
- Eurocopter EC725
- KAI Surion
- Mil Mi-8/Mil Mi-17
- NHIndustries NH90
- Denel Oryx
Related lists
References
- ^ Fei (26 December 2013). "China Develops New Type of Helicopter: DM". CRI English. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ a b Bradley Perrett (24 December 2013). "Chinese Military Utility Helo Makes First Flight". Aviation Weekly. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Staff Reporter (24 December 2013). "Z-20: China's first domestic tactical utility helicopter". Want China Times. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Global Times (24 December 2013). "First helicopter flight". Global Times. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Chris Luo (24 December 2013). "China's new 'Black Hawk' helicopter takes maiden flight". SCMP. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ David Cenciotti (3 September 2013). "Mysterious Chinese Helicopter Emerges That Resembles The One Used In Bin Laden Raid". Business Insider. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Zachary Keck (26 December 2013). "Did China Just Clone a Black Hawk Helicopter". The Diplomat. Retrieved 27 December 2013.