AC3131A makes its first flight

[chopper2004]

Civvy 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.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1620x1080/281197582_1987942064743209_6553591462437752592_n_1__d9e4b0e5 2d70c294b056acb14069393c1a58d3e5.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1618x1080/281060958_1987942108076538_151659060770605343_n_ffddb1aa8d9d 420664be105a3fcb6502979339fa.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1618x1080/280709203_1987942231409859_1324095696856174534_n_3a912903d2a 6898c53d244e3aaa0be8386625a25.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1618x1080/280944484_1987942444743171_6011188523621726495_n_193b45d70fd 8a7e7b282d71579091401345284ff.jpg

[Nescafe]

Looks familiar.

[Bravo73]

So, have they copied the S-92 or the EH-101? Or, just a bit of both? 🤷‍♂️

[RVDT]

Didn't steal much as they already had them.

Super "Super Frelon" from the '60's.

[heli1]

Cockpit section appears to be redesigned on design of S-92....the rest is still basically based on Super Frelon

[pants on fire...]

Apparently, this "Brobdingnagian Helicopter" is the answer to everything!

The manufacturer has also equipped the aircraft with new mechatronics, avionics, flight control, steering systems, a health and usage monitoring system, and an anti-icing device for rotor blades.

But, there's still more!

The revamped wide-body fuselage gives the helicopter more internal space. According to Liu Wenqi, the chief designer of the helicopter, “The AC313A switched to use the world’s most powerful turboshaft engines, as well as new reducers, a tilted tail rotor, improved rotor and control systems, and a wide-body structure, giving a comprehensive boost to the chopper’s performance.”

https://eurasiantimes.com/china-unveils-its-13-ton-brobdingnagian-helicopter/