China’s AC352 helicopter completes functionality and reliability test

Asia-Pacific, News June 3, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

China’s multi-purpose AC352 landed at an airport in China’s northeastern city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province on May 28 after successfully completing an extensive functionality and reliability test.

According to the AVIC officials, all parts and equipment worked well during the long flight testing. The long test flight and functionality test was the final step before the helicopter enters into the last phase of assessment before obtaining the certificate of approval from the Chinese authorities to be mass produced for civil and military use.

AC352 is a twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter that was initially unveiled at the China Helicopter Expo, held in Tianjin in September 2015. The medium-sized helicopter is jointly developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Airbus Helicopters.

AC352 is equipped with a WZ-16 turbo-shaft engine that is jointly produced by French Aerospace company Safran and Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC). The WZ-16 received its Type Certification in 2019 by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) before being installed in AC352.

As a predominantly indigenously produced helicopter, AC352 would be a cheaper replacement for China’s multi-purpose medium-size helicopters. Apart from being used locally, AC352 would also be exported to other countries. Citic Offshore Helicopter, an international oil and gas operator, is already in line to be the first customer for AC352 helicopters.

The airframe of AC352 was developed by Airbus Helicopter based on the airframe of the H175 helicopter, which is also produced by Airbus. AVIC designed and developed several key components for the AC352 helicopter, including the main rotor and flight control systems.

AC352 is 15.7 meters long and 5.3 meters high, with a rotor diameter of 14.5 meters. The helicopter is fitted with five composite main rotor blades with titanium flexible rotor heads, this allows the helicopter to lift heavy payloads while maintaining a long cruising range.

The cruising speed of the helicopter is 285km/h, while the maximum speed is 315km/h. The maximum range is 1,250km and the maximum altitude is 5,720m. The empty and maximum take-off weights of the helicopter are 4,750kg and 8,000kg, respectively. AC352 can accommodate 16 to 18 passengers in its spacious cabin.

*^{China’s multi-purpose AC352 helicopter completes functionality and reliability test. (Image Credit: Ecns)}*

Airbus Helicopters would provide production and assembly support services for AC352 mass production. Airbus Helicopters and AVIC signed an agreement for the joint production of 1,000 AC352 helicopters before AVIC establishes its own production system. Airbus would provide production and assembly services for AC352 from its production facility in Marignane, France, while AVIC would provide support services for the production of H175 helicopters as part of the agreement. The profit from the sales of helicopters will be shared equally between the partners.

The AC352 successfully completed its maiden flight on December 20, 2016. It then began its flight-test journey for airworthiness certification at the end of 2019. The performance of the AC352 was fully verified during previous flight tests in high temperatures, low temperatures, sub-plateau environments, and other complicated environments across the country, the AVIC said.