BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE

Military transporter re-engined for new role as Chinese look to change rotor system

China's Changhe Aircraft Industries is poised to begin test flying the new Z-8F heavy civil transport helicopter and is courting potential Western partners to help upgrade the aircraft's rotor blade.

The China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) subsidiary has re-engined the 13,000kg (28,600lb) Z-8 to produce the new Z-8F civil variant, replacing indigenous Changzhou WZ6 engines with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-67As. The first Z-8F prototype with three PT6B-67A engines is scheduled to fly for the first time in late March or early April. Industry sources say that after the new powerplant is tested Changhe will develop a new rotor blade as the second phase in its attempt to prepare the Z-8 for the civil market.

The Z-8, a locally developed version of the Aerospatiale SA321 Super Frelon, first flew in 1985 and so far has only been sold as a military helicopter. Sources say Changhe and AVIC II are now working on a technical study to change the rotor system, including the tailrotor, from a metal to composite design. Changhe is in negotiations with AgustaWestland and Eurocopter to jointly develop the upgrade and plans to select a partner later this year.

US manufacturers have elected against trying to partner Changhe because the Z-8's roots are European. Changhe says it will take about three and a half years to upgrade the rotor system. Changhe aims to certify the Z-8F with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in 2007 and sell the new variant as a 30-passenger civil transport and as a search and rescue aircraft for local government agencies.

The Z-8 will be China's third indigenous civil helicopter, joining new civil variants of the Harbin Aircraft Industry Z-9 and Changhe Z-11. Harbin also last year signed a deal with Eurocopter to assemble EC120s.

Harbin plans to begin test flying its first HC120 in August or September this year and begin the process of certifying the aircraft with CAAC in the fourth quarter.

Harbin will import EC120 components from Eurocopter and Singapore Aerospace and be responsible for final assembly, flight testing and product support.

Source: Flight International