Z-11
A Changhe Z-11WB on display at the 2016 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.
Role Light utility helicopter
National origin China
Manufacturer Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation
First flight 22 December 1994
Introduction September 1998
Status Active, In production
Primary user People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Produced 1994-present
Developed from Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil

The Changhe Z-11 is a light utility helicopter developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC). According to the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation website, it is claimed to be the first indigenously-designed helicopter in China. However, it is largely based on the Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil.[1]

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 techniques.[2]

The Z-11WB, the attack and reconnaissance variant, features pintle mount weapons and two weapon pylons on each side of the aircraft.[3] The engine is replaced by Turbomeca Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine developing 632 kW (848 shp) of power.[4]

Variants

Z-11
original unarmed version.
Z-11W
military version of the Z-11 (battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, ground attack, and medical evacuation roles)[2]
Z-11WA
military reconnaissance and observation helicopter, fitted with a sensor pod.[2]
Z-11MB1
civilian and commercial version fitted with French Arriel 2B1A engine[5]
Z-11ME1
export civilian and commercial version.
CZ-11W
export light attack helicopter variation.[6] 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.[5]
Z-11WB
First flight on 28 September 2015. Officially unveiled at Zhuhai Airshow 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.[7][4]

Specifications (Z-11J)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2010–2011[8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity:
    • 3 (reconnaissance variants)
    • 6 (utility variants)
  • Length: 11.24 m (36 ft 11 in) fuselage
13.01 m (43 ft) with rotors turning
  • Width: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 4 in) to top of rotor hub
  • Empty weight: 1,253 kg (2,762 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 423 kg (933 lb) maximum
  • Powerplant: 1 × Liming WZ-8 turboshaft engine, 510 kW (680 hp) for take-off
450 kW (603 hp) max. continuous
350 kW (469 hp) cruise

(can also fit Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 and Turbomeca Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine)

  • Main rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 1 in)
  • Main rotor area: 89.8 m2 (967 sq ft)
  • Blade section: NACA 0012[9]

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 258 km/h (160 mph, 139 kn) max at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
  • Range: 661 km (411 mi, 357 nmi) max
  • Endurance: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Service ceiling: 5,270 m (17,290 ft)
  • Hover ceiling IGE: 4,028 m (13,215 ft)
  • Hover ceiling OGE: 3,369 m (11,053 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 10 m/s (2,000 ft/min) at sea level

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 1× 7.62 mm (0.300 in) pintle mounted CS/LM12 six-barreled minigun
    • 1× 40 mm (1.575 in) pintle mounted LG3 automatic grenade launcher[4]
    • 1× 23 mm (0.906 in) pylon mounted gun pod
  • Hardpoints: 16
  • Rockets: Up to 2× 57 mm (2.244 in) unguided rocket pods
  • Missiles:
  • Bombs: Up to 4× FT-9 or YZ-212D laser-guided precision bombs[4]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ↑ "Z-11 light military transport helicopter". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Z11". Military Today.
  3. ↑ "Z-11WB". Military Today.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Airshow China 2016: Z-11WB military helicopter makes official debut". Janes. 2 November 2016. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Z-11 helicopter variations". AirForceWorld.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  6. ↑ "CZ11W". China Chamber of Commerce.
  7. ↑ "China's Z-11WB light helo takes first flight". Janes. 4 October 2015. Archived from the original on 10 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Jackson, Paul, ed. (2010). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11 (101st ed.). London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 111–112. ISBN 978-0710629166.
  9. ↑ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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