The Harbin/CHDRI Z-6, (Z - ''Zhishengji'' - vertical take-off aircraft), is a Chinese helicopter development based on the
Harbin Z-5
The Harbin Z-5 (''Zhishengji'' – helicopter) 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 f ...
, itself a licence-built / reverse engineered
Mil Mi-4
The Mil Mi-4 (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 36", NATO reporting name "Hound") is a Soviet transport helicopter that served in both military and civilian roles.
Design and development
The Mi-4 was designed in response to the American H-19 Chick ...
. 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).
[
]
Design and development
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 Dongan WZ-5 turboshaft engine, mounted above the cabin forward of the main gearbox.[
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.][
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
Changzhou ( Changzhounese: ''Zaon Tsei'', ) is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province, China. It was previously known as Yanling, Lanling and Jinling. Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Changzhou borders the provin ...
.[
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
Gongzhuling () is a county-level city under the administration of Changchun. It is located in central Jilin province of Northeast China, halfway between Siping and Changchun, along the main railway line in the Northeast. Major employers in the ci ...
, 公主岭) in Jilin province
Jilin (; alternately romanized as Kirin or Chilin) is one of the three provinces of Northeast China. Its capital and largest city is Changchun. Jilin borders North Korea ( Rasŏn, North Hamgyong, Ryanggang and Chagang) and Russia (Prim ...
, 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.[
Fear of an attack by the ]USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nati ...
, after the Sino-Soviet border conflict
The Sino-Soviet border conflict was a seven-month undeclared military conflict between the Soviet Union and China in 1969, following the Sino-Soviet split. The most serious border clash, which brought the world's two largest communist states ...
, precipitated evacuation of production and development to the Changzhou Airplane Factory and 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 ...
in 1970. However, the political turmoil in China, namely, Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated goa ...
, 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.[
]
Specifications (Z-6)
See also
References
;Notes
;Bibliography
*
External links
Aircraft Walkaround Center - Harbin Z-6Helis.com - Chinese Helicopters
{{PRC helicopters
Harbin aircraft
1960s Chinese helicopters