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Aviation History
1992
1992 - 0031.PDF
speed handling, and XAC improved performance further by fitting the 2,050kW (2,750hp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 to the -200A and an upgraded 2,125kW version of the WJ-5E turbo prop to the -200B. Each aircraft has a fuselage plug ahead of the wing, to restore the centre-of-gravity range which is affected by the lighter engines. The plug adds lm to the -200A and 740mm to the -200B, increasing the seating capacity to 56 or 60 passengers, depending on the configuration. WESTERN AVIONICS The introduction of western avionics (the -200A will have a Collins electronic flight- instrument-system cockpit) has reduced the crew from four to two, allowing a reprofiled nose section with fewer cockpit windows. There is also new landing gear, extended horizontal stabilisers, pneumatic rubber de- icing boots on the wing leading-edges, and longer and narrower engine nacelles. The -200A, which will fly in early 1993 and enter service by the end of that year, is intended primarily for export. Yi says that the overall modification package will add $3.5 million to the $5 million list price of the Y-7-100, although he adds: "The total price is very competitive compared with the products of other countries." Confusingly, the -200B was the first aircraft to be completed, and is already in flight test. It is intended for domestic sales, and will enter service by the end of this year. The WJ-5E, produced by Harbin's Dongan Engine, features a 9.4% reduction in fuel burn compared to that of the original engine. This, in turn, was achieved through co-operation with General Electric (Flight International, 16-22 October, 1991). Across the town at Harbin Aircraft Manu facturing, there has also been considerable investment in new equipment and in up grading its products to meet western air worthiness standards. Harbin achieved UK Investment in higher technology has enabled XAC.. Civil Aviation Authority certification for its 17-seat Y-12 utility aircraft in June 1990, and has since sold the aircraft in Sri Lanka, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, Nepal and Peru. The company is also discussing orders with Indonesia. The latest version of its ten-seat agricul tural utility aircraft, the Y-11B, first flew in December 1990, and is powered by two 260kW Teledyne Continental TSIO- 550AlBs. These replace the original 213kW Chinese radials, and also have fully feather ing three-bladed Hartzell propellers. The aircraft was scheduled for certification at the end of 1991. Harbin did not change over completely from military to civil products until the end of 1990, having previously been responsible for military helicopters and the H-5 light bomber. It has just completed licence pro duction of 50 Aerospatiale Dauphins, rede signated the Z-9A, for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and Navy, and is discussing a follow-on order. .to win contracts to build parts for Boeing aircraft The company now derives two-thirds of its income from aviation activities, of which $8 million-$9 million a year comes from foreign subcontracts. Harbin is also the designated Chinese development partner for the three-nation P-120L light helicopter, with Aerospatiale and Singapore Aerospace, and will build China's 24% share, which includes the fuselage, fuel system, hydrau lics and canopy. Much of the remaining third of its income comes from mass production of a modified Suzuki "minivan", known as the Song Hua Jiang (named after the Song Hua river which flows through Harbin). The company builds 5,600 vans a year, with the engines coming from the neighbouring Dongan company, and claims an ultimate capacity of a 20,000 a year. SHORT WORK Harbin's main subcontract work has in cluded the centre wing and doors for the Shorts 330 and 360, eight different doors, (including landing-gear doors) for the Brit ish Aerospace 146, doors for Aerospatiale's Dauphin and composite parts for the Sikorsky Black Hawk. Its equipment in cludes five-axis milling machines, an auto clave, hydraulic rubber press and stretch- forming machines. Chief engineer Guo says: "We get the confidence of foreign compa nies because we deliver parts on time, and the quality of our parts is good. We would like to have co-operation with companies all over the world." This sentiment is echoed by XACs Li, who says: "China is a very large country, and. if we depended on buying foreign aircraft it would be very difficult for us, because we would have to invest a lot of money. China has a large aviation industry, so we must produce our own aeroplanes; but it is now common for several countries to join together and develop new aircraft. Maybe this will be the trend for us." C
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