The Changhe Z-11 is a light utility
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...
developed by
Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation
Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) () is a Chinese helicopter manufacturer and supplier to the Chinese military. It is a member of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The company is based in the city of Jingdezhen in ...
(CAIC). According to the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation website, it is claimed to be the first indigenously-designed helicopter in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. However, it is largely based on the
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil
The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil (or Squirrel), now Airbus Helicopters H125, is a single-engine light utility helicopter originally designed and manufactured in France by Aérospatiale and Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). In North Americ ...
.
Development
The Z-11 project started in 1989 and the first flight was made in Dec 1994. In Oct 2000, test flights of Z-11 were completed. The chief designer of Z-11 is Mr. Wu Ximing (吴希明), who is also the chief designer of three other Chinese helicopters, including the
Z-10. Under Mr. Wu, the Z-11 became the first Chinese helicopter to be completely designed using
CAD/CAM
CAD/CAM refers to the integration of Computer-aided design (CAD) and Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Both of these require powerful computers. ''CAD'' software helps designers and draftsmen; ''CAM'' "reduces manpower costs" in the manufactur ...
techniques.
The Z-11WB, the attack and reconnaissance variant, features pintle mount weapons and two weapon pylons on each side of the aircraft. The engine is replaced by Turbomeca Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine developing 632 kW (848 shp) of power.
Variants
;Z-11: original unarmed version.
;Z-11W: military version of the Z-11 (battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, ground attack, and medical evacuation roles)
;Z-11WA: military reconnaissance and observation helicopter, fitted with a sensor pod.
;Z-11MB1: civilian and commercial version fitted with French Arriel 2B1A engine
;Z-11ME1: export civilian and commercial version.
;CZ-11W: export light attack helicopter variation.
It is powered by one WZ-8D,
LTS101-700D-2 or Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine and is equipped with integrated avionics systems, antitank missiles, rockets and machine guns. The helicopter is fitted with a targeting sensor turret, and can carry four Chinese HJ-8 antitank missiles.
;Z-11WB: First flight on 28 September 2015. Officially unveiled at
Zhuhai Airshow
China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (), also known as the Airshow China () or Zhuhai Airshow (), is the largest airshow and aerospace trade expo in China. It has been held in even years in Zhuhai, Guangdong since 1996.
Hist ...
on 1 November 2016. Enhanced attack/reconnaissance variant with a new
EO ball, redesigned cockpit, SW-6 UAV, and pylons for weapons. Its roles include ground support, attack, battlefield reconnaissance, command, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, and other tasks.
Specifications (Z-11J)
See also
References
External links
Introduction from Changhe Aircraft IndustriesSinoDefence.com article
{{Chinese Military Aircraft
1990s Chinese military utility aircraft
Military helicopters
Changhe aircraft
1990s Chinese helicopters
Single-turbine helicopters
Aircraft first flown in 1994