The Z-7 Heavy Helicopter

In 1969 the newly founded Helicopter Design and Research Institute was given the design task of the Z-7 Heavy Helicopter (HH) Project. This new HH's design targets were as follows; maximum takeoff weight 14,000 kg, payload 3,500 kg, maximum speed 240 km/h, maximum range 350 km and service ceiling 6,000m

By May 1975 the manufacturing of 97 percent of Z-7 parts and sub assemblies had been completed, two airframes assembled and 90 percent of vendor-furnished-equipment and components supplied. The full size static test was completed in 1979. The project was terminated in 1979 to focus the limited resource on the Z-8 project.