I doubt they care, as long as it does the job.And now a Chinese Apache. Beijing is thinking, what to copy next?
I'd actually expect them to try for a compound helicopter, Cheyenne style, before trying for a tilt-rotor.Given the rest of the high-tech nations race for greater speed, range, and endurance, it would not surprise me if this were the last traditional combat helicopter for China.
A lot of the issues with the Osprey were due to scaling up an H1/H60 sized fuselage to CH46 size. The XV-15 people happily jumped into and flew wherever it needed to go.I would not see China going for a tilt-rotor yet Scott Kenny, look at how long it took the US with the V-22 program and all the accidents between the initial design and eventual in service. I would think that the next thing that China would try is a Cheyenne style compound helicopter that would be a much more likely less risky option to take.
To me, the most important point seems to be this:I would not see China going for a tilt-rotor yet Scott Kenny, look at how long it took the US with the V-22 program and all the accidents between the initial design and eventual in service. I would think that the next thing that China would try is a Cheyenne style compound helicopter that would be a much more likely less risky option to take.