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Large helicopter or large aircraft?

By Du Xiaoli (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-07-04 17:45

Li Daguang of the University of National Defense believes China should develop heavy-lift helicopters and expand the capabilities of its existing mid-size models.

Wang explained that China had previously lacked the economic capacity to develop heavy-lift helicopters.

"Just like large passenger planes, developing heavy helicopters demands huge investments and technological support," he said.

But with China's GDP growing and technology advancing from previous projects, now might be a good time to consider developing 20-ton heavy helicopters, Wang said. Past international experience suggests developing such helicopters would require at least 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion) and take between five and eight years, he added.

Limited airspace has placed China's general aviation sector -- the country's major helicopter user -- far behind the scheduled flights sector. Today, only 15 of China's 40 general aviation firms own copters, he said.

Some people hold different opinions. China's aviation industry still has many gaps and one of them is large aircraft, said an article published in the Defence Weekly. The heavy helicopter is still too far away for China's helicopter industry, said the article. Currently, it is more advantageous and urgent to thoroughly research general mid-size transport helicopters than the heavy helicopter, according to the newspaper.

Large aircraft are key for China's aviation industry, said the article. There will be a good development opportunity for revitalization of the helicopter industry after the relief work, but there is still a long way to go for the development of large helicopters, said the article.

China's first ever jumbo passenger aircraft company was officially inaugurated in Shanghai on May 11. The company, named Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (CACC), will be responsible for researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing the homegrown large passenger aircraft.

Establishment of CACC was approved in February 2007 by the State Council, China's Cabinet. This was to make the country capable of building aircraft with a take-off weight of more than 100 tons, or planes with more than 150 seats.

State-level resin matrix composite structure and manufacture technology research and application center was established in Harbin Aircraft Industry Group recently. The company will jointly undertake the task of researching and manufacturing homemade composite materials with many domestic companies to research and manufacture advanced composite materials for China's aviation products such as the large aircraft.

China's aviation experts have begun discussing the feasibility of the country's large airplane manufacturing program, which indicates the nation has entered an advanced stage of researching and manufacturing large aircraft.

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