Z-6 | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Harbin Z-6 in Chinese Aviation Museum, Beijing | |
Role | Helicopter |
National origin | People's Republic of China |
Manufacturer | Harbin/CHDRI (Zhongguo Zhishengji Sheji Yangjiuso - Chinese Helicopter Research and development Institute [CHDRI]) |
First flight | 15 December 1969 [1] |
Number built | 11 [1] |
Developed from | Harbin Z-5 [1] |
The Harbin/CHDRI Z-6, (Z - Zhishengji - vertical take-off aircraft), is a Chinese helicopter development based on the Harbin Z-5, itself a licence-built / reverse engineered Mil Mi-4. A limited production run was terminated after performance was found to be inferior to its Z-5 progenitor (sources vary from 6 to 15 completed out of orders for 100). [1]
Through the Z-5 project the Chinese obtained valuable knowledge and experience in helicopter design and development. The Z-6 is a turboshaft powered development of the piston engine powered Z-5, the first Chinese designed turboshaft helicopter. The major difference is that the piston engine is replaced by a 1,641 kW (2,200 hp) Dongan WZ-5 turboshaft engine, mounted above the cabin forward of the main gearbox. [1]
Development began in 1966 at the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC), but two years later development was moved to the newly formed Chinese Helicopter Design Research Institute (CHDRI), with HAMC still responsible for manufacture and assembly of components. [1]
The first prototype (No.6001) was completed in 1967 for use in static testing and official authorisation for the project was given in 1968 and on 15 December 1969 the second Z-6 prototype (No.6002), flew for the first time, piloted by Wang Peimin (王培民). Flight tests proceeded as preparations for production were made in various provinces supplying the assembly line at Hongzhuang Machinery Factory at Changzhou. [1]
Flight tests revealed excessive vibration, insufficient tail rotor thrust, as well as engine and main rotor gearbox overheating. These teething troubles were addressed during the development programme and type approval was given in 1977, despite a fatal crash of a prototype on 7 August 1972 at Princess Ridge (Gongzhuling, 公主岭) in Jilin province, killing all 6 occupants including the pilot, Mr. Fu Guifa (傅贵法). It was discovered that the cause of the accident was due to failure of a transmission component, resulting in engine seizure. Elimination of the seizure problem resulted in 11 design changes as well as those to rectify flight test faults. [1]
Fear of an attack by the USSR, after the Sino-Soviet border conflict, precipitated evacuation of production and development to the Changzhou Airplane Factory and Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation in 1970. However, the political turmoil in China, namely, Cultural Revolution, took a great toll on the production and only 11 were built before the program was cancelled because the single engine design was deemed unsafe and under-powered. [1]
Data from Chinese Aircraft [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Mil Mi-8 Related lists List of aircraft
The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber of the immediate postwar period that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Forces. It was the Soviet Union's first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was also licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5. Total production in the USSR was 6,316 aircraft, and over 319 H-5s were built. Only 187 examples of the HJ-5 training variant were manufactured. In the 1990s hundreds remained in service with various air forces over 50 years after the Il-28 first appeared. The only H-5s in service currently are approximately 80 aircraft which operate with the Korean People's Air Force. The Il-28 has the USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 27" and NATO reporting name "Beagle", while the Il-28U trainer variant has the USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 30" and NATO reporting name Mascot.
The EurocopterEC120 Colibri ("hummingbird") is a five-seat, single-engine, light utility helicopter. Jointly designed and developed by Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), Harbin Aviation Industries (Group) Ltd (HAIG) and Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (STAero) at Eurocopter France's Marignane facility, the EC120B was assembled by Eurocopter in France and Australia.
Harbin Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (HAIG), often shortened to Hafei, is an aircraft manufacturing company headquartered in Pingfang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China. It was previously called Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) in English.
The AérospatialeSA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by aerospace manufacturer Sud Aviation of France. It held the distinction of being the most powerful helicopter to be built in Europe at one point, as well as being the world's fastest helicopter.
The Yakovlev Yak-24 is a Soviet twin-engine, tandem rotor, transport helicopter developed by Yakovlev in the 1950s. The Yak-24 saw limited use in the Soviet Air Force, and the exact number produced and duration of service are unknown due to inconsistencies in data.
The Mil V-12, given the project number Izdeliye 65, is the largest helicopter ever built. The designation "Mi-12" would have been the name for the production helicopter and was not applied to the V-12 prototypes.
The Mil Mi-10, given the product number izdeliye 60, is a Soviet military transport helicopter of flying crane configuration, developed from the Mi-6, entering service in 1963. While most versions had been retired by 2009, the short-legged Mi-10K was still in service as of 2014.
The Yakovlev Yak-15 was a first-generation Soviet turbojet fighter developed by the Yakovlev design bureau (OKB) immediately after World War II. The main fuselage was that of Yakovlev Yak-3 piston-engine fighter modified to mount a reverse-engineered German Junkers Jumo 004 engine. The Yak-15 and the Swedish Saab 21R were the only two jets to be successfully converted from piston-power to enter production. 280 aircraft were built in 1947. Although nominally a fighter, it was mainly used to qualify piston-engine-experienced pilots to fly jets.
The CAIC Z-10, also called WZ-10, is a Chinese medium attack helicopter developed for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It is designed primarily for anti-tank warfare missions but has secondary air-to-air combat capability as well.
The Harbin Y-11 is a high wing twin-engine piston utility and geological survey aircraft built by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC).
The Harbin Z-9 is a Chinese military utility helicopter with civilian variants. It is a licensed variant of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation.
The Turbomeca Turmo is a family of French turboshaft engines manufacturered for helicopter use. Developed from the earlier Turbomeca Artouste, later versions delivered up to 1,300 kW (1,700 shp). A turboprop version was developed for use with the Bréguet 941 transport aircraft.
The Westland Westminster was a British helicopter of the 1950s from Westland Aircraft. A large cargo design, it was powered by two turboshaft engines driving a single, five-bladed rotor. Initially unclad, the all-metal airframe was later enclosed in a fabric covering. Designed and built as a private venture without government assistance, it was cancelled when Westland took over rival helicopter producers and their more advanced projects.
The Harbin Z-5 is a Chinese variant of the Soviet Mil Mi-4 piston powered helicopter. Before its discontinuation from service, it was produced in Harbin, China. The USSR provided China with Mi-4 blueprints just a few years before the Sino-Soviet split in 1958. Maiden flight was in 1958 and mass production started in the mid-1960s. China has produced a number of unique variants through this model, and the Z-5 was employed by the PLA, PLAAF and PLANAF in large numbers as reserve forces. A total of 558 Z-5 were built. A few Z-5 helicopters were modified to carry machine-guns and rocket pods.
The Airbus Helicopters H175 is a 7-ton class medium utility helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters. In China, the H175 is produced by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) as the Avicopter AC352. Originally launched as the Eurocopter EC175 and the Harbin Z-15, it has been referred to as being a 'super-medium' helicopter.
Yakovlev Yak-60 is the possible designation for an experimental Yakovlev tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter design of the late 1960s. This design never progressed beyond the model stage.
The Harbin Z-19, also called WZ-19, is a Chinese light reconnaissance/attack helicopter developed by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the Ground Force Air Force. It is a specialized combat variant of the Harbin Z-9, which is a licence-built version of the Eurocopter Dauphin.
The Capital Machinery Factory Capital-1 was a twin-engined monoplane light transport/utility aircraft designed and built in the People's Republic of China at Beijing in the late 1950s.
The Nanjing CK-1 is a radio-controlled target drone developed by the Nanjing Institute of Aeronautics in the People's Republic of China. It is based on the reverse engineering of Lavochkin La-17C drones supplied to the PRC by the Soviet Union in the early 1960s before all such Soviet technical aid to the nation was withdrawn. Its chief designer was General Zhao Xu and the first example flew on December 6, 1966.
The Harbin Z-20 is a Chinese medium-lift utility helicopter produced by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG). It was first flown on 23 December 2013 and has a maximum takeoff weight in the range of 10 tonnes (22,000 lb). The Z-20 can operate from locations above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in altitude as well as from the Liaoning aircraft carrier. It is regarded to be comparable in performance to the US-made Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, of which the civilian Sikorsky S-70C-2 variant has been used by the People's Liberation Army since 1984.