Changhe Z-11

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Changhe Z-11" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Z-11
A Changhe Z-11WB on display at the 2016 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.
General information
Type	Light utility helicopter
National origin	China
Manufacturer	Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation
Status	Active, In production
Primary user	People's Liberation Army Ground Force
History
Manufactured	1994-present
Introduction date	September 1998
First flight	22 December 1994
Developed from	Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil

The Changhe Z-11 is a light utility helicopter developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC). According to the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation website, it is claimed to be the first indigenously-designed helicopter in China. However, it is largely based on the Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil.^[1]

The Z-11 project started in 1989 and the first flight was made in Dec 1994. In Oct 2000, test flights of Z-11 were completed. The chief designer of Z-11 is Mr. Wu Ximing (吴希明), who is also the chief designer of three other Chinese helicopters, including the Z-10. Under Mr. Wu, the Z-11 became the first Chinese helicopter to be completely designed using CAD/CAM techniques.^[2]

The Z-11WB, the attack and reconnaissance variant, features pintle mount weapons and two weapon pylons on each side of the aircraft.^[3] The engine is replaced by Turbomeca Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine developing 632 kW (848 shp) of power.^[4]

Z-11

original unarmed version.

Z-11W

military version of the Z-11 (battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, ground attack, and medical evacuation roles)^[2]

Z-11WA

military reconnaissance and observation helicopter, fitted with a sensor pod.^[2]

Z-11MB1

civilian and commercial version fitted with French Arriel 2B1A engine^[5]

Z-11ME1

export civilian and commercial version.

CZ-11W

export light attack helicopter variation.^[6] It is powered by one WZ-8D, LTS101-700D-2 or Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine and is equipped with integrated avionics systems, antitank missiles, rockets and machine guns. The helicopter is fitted with a targeting sensor turret, and can carry four Chinese HJ-8 antitank missiles.^[5]

Avicopter AC311

Multi-role civilian helicopter. Developed from earlier Z-11 models, featuring a redesigned airframe, cockpit, tail, a Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 engine, and other subsystems. 2 crew and four passengers. Maiden flight in 2011.^[7][8]

Avicopter AC311A

Multi-role civilian helicopter. Developed from AC311, featuring a redesigned main rotor and other improvements, a license-built Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine. Maiden flight in 2013.^[8]

Z-11WB

Attack/reconnaissance helicopter developed from the AC311 platform.^[9] The first flight was on 28 September 2015. Officially unveiled at Zhuhai Airshow on 1 November 2016. Enhanced attack/reconnaissance variant with a new EO ball, redesigned cockpit, SW-6 UAV, and pylons for weapons. Its roles include ground support, attack, battlefield reconnaissance, command, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, and other tasks.^[10][4]

 China

• People's Liberation Army Ground Force: Z-11WB.^[9]

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2010–2011^[11]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity:
  
  • 3 (reconnaissance variants)
  • 6 (utility variants)
• Length: 11.24 m (36 ft 11 in) fuselage

13.01 m (43 ft) with rotors turning

• Width: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
• Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 4 in) to top of rotor hub
• Empty weight: 1,253 kg (2,762 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 423 kg (933 lb) maximum
• Powerplant: 1 × Liming WZ-8 turboshaft engine, 510 kW (680 hp) for take-off

450 kW (603 hp) max. continuous

350 kW (469 hp) cruise

(can also fit Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 and Turbomeca Arriel 2B1A turboshaft engine)

• Main rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 1 in)
• Main rotor area: 89.8 m² (967 sq ft)
  
• Blade section: NACA 0012^[12]

Performance

• Cruise speed: 258 km/h (160 mph, 139 kn) max at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
• Range: 661 km (411 mi, 357 nmi) max
• Endurance: 4 hours 15 minutes
• Service ceiling: 5,270 m (17,290 ft)
  
• Hover ceiling IGE: 4,028 m (13,215 ft)
• Hover ceiling OGE: 3,369 m (11,053 ft)
• Rate of climb: 10 m/s (2,000 ft/min) at sea level

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1× 7.62 mm (0.300 in) pintle mounted CS/LM12 six-barreled minigun
  • 1× 40 mm (1.575 in) pintle mounted LG3 automatic grenade launcher^[4]
  • 1× 23 mm (0.906 in) pylon mounted gun pod
• Hardpoints: 16
• Rockets: Up to 2× 57 mm (2.244 in) unguided rocket pods
• Missiles:
  
  • Up to 4× TL-2, AG-300/M, CM-502KG air-to-surface anti-tank / anti-ship missiles^[4]
  • Up to 8× HJ-8, HJ-10 air-to-surface missiles^[4]
  • Up to 8× TY-90 air-to-air missiles^[4]
  • Up to 8× SW-6 air deployable tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)^[4]
• Bombs: Up to 4× FT-9 or YZ-212D laser-guided precision bombs^[4]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Eurocopter Ecureuil
• Bell OH-58 Kiowa
• OH-6 Cayuse
  • MD 500 Defender
  • MH-6 Little Bird
  • Boeing AH-6
• Aérospatiale Gazelle
• HC-120

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Changhe helicopters.

• Introduction from Changhe Aircraft Industries
• SinoDefence.com article