AC3131A helicopter flies for first time

[RavenOne]

Yesterday in China the civilian version of their military Z-8L made its first flight yesterday...(am awaiting cues of Ctrl V here lol). Anyhow powered by three French Safran ANETO-1C turboshafts engines, the transmission, the powertrain arrangement, the rotor blades and of course the electronics / avionics are all new.

cheers

 

[totoro]

There are actually suprisingly many differences between this civilian and military variant. The new engine arrangement is completely different, isn't it?

 

[TomcatViP]

Is that yet another derivative of the Puma rotor?

Notice also the huge horizontal tail plane.

 

[H_K]

powered by three French Safran ANETO-1C turboshafts engines

What’s the source for this? I’ve only read speculation about a domestic Chinese engine, likely the WZ-10 used on the Z-20 Blackhawk copy.

 

[Deino]

There are actually suprisingly many differences between this civilian and military variant. The new engine arrangement is completely different, isn't it?

Indeed ...




(Images via @大包CG from Weibo)