AVIC launches series production of AC352 helicopter

chiny24.com 1 year ago

AVIC launches series production of AC352 helicopter

According to China Aviation manufacture Corp. (AVIC), China's main aircraft manufacturer, serial production of the AC352 chopper was launched.

The first copies are to scope users before the end of 2024. At the same time, certification by the Chinese civilian Aviation Administration (CAAC) is ongoing, whose completion is scheduled until the end of 2024.

AC352 is the first medium-class chopper with a capacity of 7 tonnes, jointly developed by AVIC and Airbus Helicopters.

Work on the device plan began in 2006 and the first flight of the fresh chopper took place in December 2016. The chopper built based on the latest technologies is designed to carry out various tasks, participate in search and rescue acacias, assist in emergency situations (natural disasters), transport of personnel, and services in medical air transport. A two-engined chopper achieves:

- the starting mass of 3.9 tonnes,
- passing velocity about 280 km/h,
- maximum scope 850 km

and can carry 18 passengers, pilots and maintenance. Designers recognise AC352 as 1 of the most comfortable and ecological medium-sized helicopters in the world.

Multipurpose Class 7t civilian utility helicopter

The AC352 helicopter, developed jointly by Aviation manufacture corp of China (AVIC) and Airbus Helicopters, debuted at the China chopper Expo in September 2015.

Equipped with a WZ-16 turbofan engine, the chopper took its first flight in December 2016 in Harbina, Heilongjiang Province.

The engine was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Chinese civilian Aviation Administration (CAAC) by the end of 2017 and 2018.

The first buyer of AC352 helicopters is Citic Offshore Helicopter, an oil and gas operator.

Construction and improvement AC352

AC352 is based on a H175 chopper manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. AVIC designed key components including the main rotor and flight control systems.

The chopper is equipped with 5 composite rotor blades with titanium flexible heads. Its dimensions are 15.7 m long, 5.3 m advanced and 14.8 m diameter rotor. Airbus Helicopters and AVIC signed a joint production agreement for 1000 AC352 helicopters in March 2014.

The AC352 assembly lines are located in France and China. Airbus provides assembly and support, sharing sales profits with AVIC.

Cabin, cockpit and performance

The chopper has a spacious pilot compartment equipped with Helionix avionic systems. It has a four-axis automatic flight control system.

AC352 reaches a cruising velocity of 285 km/h, a maximum velocity of 315 km/h, has a scope of 1250 km and is able to climb to a maximum altitude of 5720 m. Its own weight is 4,750 kg and its starting weight is 8,000 kg.