Manufacturing models keep getting bigger and more ambitious in China. Television news has shown images of the nation’s first domestically manufactured large civil helicopter, which completed its first test flight this week. The AC313 helicopter – which has a maximum take-off weight of 13.8 tonnes and can carry up to 27 passengers – completed its maiden flight in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province.
The helicopter, which has been designed and manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has a maximum range of 559 miles, and its uses will include “search and rescue, fighting forest fires, and assisting in fighting fires in cities,” according to state media.
China is investing heavily to upgrade its aviation design and manufacturing capacities. Earlier this week, the government announced that the draft design of China’s first home-built jumbo jet airplane will be completed by the end of 2010. The jet, codenamed C919, will feature a 156-seat and a 168-seat model. It is slated to begin production in 2011, and is targeted to be operational in 2016. The aim is to deliver a jet that is “more comfortable, less oil-consuming and more economical than competitors in the aviation market,” according to Wu Guanghui, chief designer of the Commercial Aviation Corp (COMAC).
As well as developing its own aircraft manufacturing industry, China is also the home to the only Airbus assembly plant outside Europe. Last June, the plant in Tianjin delivered its first China-assembled A320 jet.
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China Invests in Aircraft Manufacturing
Manufacturing models keep getting bigger and more ambitious in China. Television news has shown images of the nation’s first domestically manufactured large civil helicopter, which completed its first test flight this week. The AC313 helicopter – which has a maximum take-off weight of 13.8 tonnes and can carry up to 27 passengers – completed its maiden flight in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province.
The helicopter, which has been designed and manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has a maximum range of 559 miles, and its uses will include “search and rescue, fighting forest fires, and assisting in fighting fires in cities,” according to state media.
China is investing heavily to upgrade its aviation design and manufacturing capacities. Earlier this week, the government announced that the draft design of China’s first home-built jumbo jet airplane will be completed by the end of 2010. The jet, codenamed C919, will feature a 156-seat and a 168-seat model. It is slated to begin production in 2011, and is targeted to be operational in 2016. The aim is to deliver a jet that is “more comfortable, less oil-consuming and more economical than competitors in the aviation market,” according to Wu Guanghui, chief designer of the Commercial Aviation Corp (COMAC).
As well as developing its own aircraft manufacturing industry, China is also the home to the only Airbus assembly plant outside Europe. Last June, the plant in Tianjin delivered its first China-assembled A320 jet.
This entry was posted on Friday, April 16th, 2010 at 6:30 am and is filed under News commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.