Harbin Z-20

Harbin Z-20
Role Medium lift helicopter
National origin China
Manufacturer Avicopter
First flight 23 December 2013
Status Flight testing
Primary user People's Liberation Army



The Harbin Z-20 or Zhi-20 is a medium lift helicopter produced in the Northeast of China. Its first flight was on 23 December 2013.[1] The helicopter has a maximum takeoff weight in the range of 10 tons,[2] can drop troops at locations of up to 3,000 ft (910 m) altitude, and could operate form the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning.[3] It is thought to be comparable to the US made Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the civilian Sikorsky S-70C-2 variant of which has been used by the People's Liberation Army since 1984.[4] Some sources suggest that the Z-20 is a copy of the Black Hawk[5] and link the design to the Black Hawk that was abandoned by US special forces in Pakistan during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on 1 May 2011.[6] The sources say that Pakistan allowed Chinese officials to examine the Black Hawk wreckage.[7] However, Aviation Week also points out that although some aspects of the design do appear similar, such as the tail wheel arrangement, there are also marked differences. For example, the Chinese Z-20 has a five blade rotor compared with the Black Hawks' four blades.[2]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Fei (26 December 2013). "China Develops New Type of Helicopter: DM". CRI English. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 Bradley Perrett (24 December 2013). "Chinese Military Utility Helo Makes First Flight". Aviation Weekly. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  3. ↑ Staff Reporter (24 December 2013). "Z-20: China's first domestic tactical utility helicopter". Want China Times. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Global Times (24 December 2013). "First helicopter flight". Global Times. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Chris Luo (24 December 2013). "China’s new ‘Black Hawk’ helicopter takes maiden flight". SCMP. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  6. ↑ David Cenciotti (3 September 2013). "Mysterious Chinese Helicopter Emerges That Resembles The One Used In Bin Laden Raid". Business Insider. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Zachary Keck (26 December 2013). "Did China Just Clone a Black Hawk Helicopter". The Diplomat. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
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