By Franz-Stefan Gady
The Chinese Z-11WB light helicopter has completed its maiden flight.
In late September, the Chinese Z-11WB light helicopter completed its maiden flight near the town of Jingdezhen IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly reports.
Produced by the Changhe Aircraft Industries Group, the Z-11WB is the military variant of the AC-311 multi-purpose helicopter – the first light civilian helicopter developed and manufactured in China, according Avicopter, a subsidiary of the Changhe Aircraft Industries Group.
Customers of the 2.2-ton AC-311 aircraft–capable of carrying up to six passengers–have so far included various Chinese police departments. The AC-311, however, is itself a derivative of the Avicopter light utility helicopter Z-11, which in turn is based on the Eurocopter Ecureuil. (Changhe Aircraft Industries Group illegally copied the French design a few decades ago.)
The Z-11 sports a maximum load of 577 kg, a top speed speed of 278 km/h, a maximum range of 560 km, endurance of 3 hours and 42 minutes, and an operational ceiling limit of 5240 meters, according to the company website.
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