Testing helicopters, manned and unmanned, armed and unarmed on the Tibetan Plateau

First one mentioned in the news is the AV500W, an armed unmanned helicopter, developed for border patrol and light attack operations at altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level (note the 2 air to surface missiles in red)

China's unmanned helicopters pass high-plateau testing
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-11/23/c_136774705.htm
Source
    China Daily
Editor
    Li Jiayao

Time
    2017-11-24
-
The AV500W conducts firing tests at an altitude of 4,300 meters in Qinghai province on Nov 18, 2017.

NANCHANG -- Three unmanned helicopters made test flights recently on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, authorities said Thursday. The AV500W conducted firing tests at an altitude of 4,300 meters in Qinghai province on Nov 18, according to Jiangxi provincial office of science, technology and industry for national defence.

At 4,600 meters above sea level, on Nov 9, XM20 multi-rotor drone took off and landed with a full payload.

The AV500 climbed to an altitude of 5,006 meters during tests on Oct 31, the maximum achieved by a domestically-made unmanned helicopter.

The three have applications in counter-terrorism, drug policing, border patrols, meteorology and mapping.

The aircraft were developed by a helicopter research and development institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, owned by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

The institute began work on unmanned helicopters in 2004.

Second helicopter mentioned is the improved civilian variant of the Z-9 light utility chopper, the improved E model of AC312.  9 were exported to Cambodia in 2012

China-developed AC312E helicopter completes plateau tests

http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2017-11/23/content_7838949.htm
    China Daily
Editor
    Li Jiayao

Time: 2017-11-23
AC312E, the first light twin-engine civil helicopter developed in China, takes a plateau test flight in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan province, Nov 20, 2017.

AC312E, the first light twin-engine civil helicopter ever developed in China, completed all plateau test flights Tuesday at Ninglang Luguhu Airport, a commercial airport that sits at an altitude of 3,293 meters in Southwest China's Yunnan province, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The helicopter, which made its maiden flight July 2016, was developed by AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

It can carry nine passengers, with a maximum takeoff weight of 4.25 metric tons and a maximum payload of 1.7 tons.

On the Tibetan Plateau, where the natural and geographical features are complex, AC312E has reached 6,300 meters above sea level.

In addition, taking off at an airport at an altitude of 4,500 meters and cruising at an altitude of 5,000 meters, the aircraft has reached a range of 500 kilometers with a 500-kilogram payload.

"Installed with world-class Arriel 2H heli-engines, AC312E has shown good performance in the plateau environment. Under the same conditions, it is superior to competitors in effective payload, range and endurance and it has more possibilities in space modification and higher transport efficiency," Li Shengwei, deputy chief designer of the aircraft, said.

To meet individual client demands, the helicopter can be expanded to four specialist models for emergency medical services, search and rescue, business transport and law enforcement.

Last November, the first order for the AC312E came from the China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center.

The Tibet Development and Investment Group signed an intention agreement to buy four AC312E helicopters this September.

Gu Haicheng, vice-general manager of AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, told CZTV website that the AC312E is expected to get an airworthiness certificate and be put on the market in 2018.

Rabi Sankar Bosu, secretary of New Horizon Radio Listeners' Club, said China's helicopter industry has been on a steady rise over the last decade and the market value is expected to reach 1 trillion yuan ($147.2 billion), according to the China Radio International website.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

12 AC312 (Civilian Z-9) to Cambodia

Marking it the single largest PRC helicopter export to date. 

人民日报北京1月20日电（记者白天亮）亚洲最大吨位的直升机、可以飞越青藏高原8000米高度、使中国和欧美俄一样具备自主研制大型直升机的能力——今年1月5日，中国航空工业集团公司研制的AC313大型民用直升机获颁型号许可证。“这是对我们自主创新谋跨越最好的新年礼物！”中航工业上下激动万分。

自2008年底重组整合以来，中航工业坚持以自主创新提升企业核心竞争力，收获了一份亮丽的成绩单，实现了多个型号的首飞、鉴定和定型，极大缩短了与世界航空工业强国的差距，让世界震惊。一批具有世界先进水平的航空武器研制成功并出口，表明我国跻身世界少数几个能系列化、多谱系自主研制具有国际先进水平航空武器装备的国家之列。在新中国成立60周年的国庆阅兵中，空中梯队151架飞机全部由中航工业生产，为国防和军队现代化建设做出了重大贡献。

军品强，民品也要优。中航工业加大了研发力度，科技创新取得新成效。飞机总体技术、民用飞机发动机总体技术、民机复合材料应用等68项民机关键技术项目科研立项。基础科研、基础产品创新、军品配套技术、引进消化再创新等政府科研项目取得一大批科研成果。在2011年，中航工业共有3项成果荣获国家科技进步奖，完成专利申报3492项，同比增长20%，发明专利授权519项，同比增长30%。

在中航工业的努力下，我国民用飞机产业取得突破式发展。2011年，MA飞机新签销售合同23架，累计订单已近200架，MA60飞机国外用户覆盖亚非拉美10个国家。直升机销售快速增长，累计交付22架，特别是向柬埔寨销售12架AC312直升机，创批量出口新高。“新舟”700飞机完成前期研究，进入国家立项。全力支持国产大飞机研制，C919大型客机实现零件开工，系统设备对外合作全面展开，C919发动机验证机总体方案通过专家评审。

民机发展要立足全球。中航工业积极“走出去”，成功并购美国西锐公司、大陆航空发动机公司，收购奥地利FACC、日本NEC的TFT，收购德国洪堡股权成为大股东，使我国高端通用飞机、先进活塞发动机的研发制造能力显著增强，实现了全产业链、全价值链发展。

军工企业也要力争多创造利润。中航工业在加大创新、开拓市场的同时，千方百计加强管理、压缩成本，企业经营业绩不断提升。2011年，中航工业实现营业收入2581亿元，同比增长23%；利润122亿元，同比增长18.8%；资产总额5250亿元。中航工业自重组以来，连续3年进入世界500强，排名从426位上升到2011年的310位，在国务院中央企业经营业绩考核中连续获得A级，被评为“业绩优秀企业”。中航工业集团总经理林左鸣预测，2012年有望全年实现营业收入3000亿元，再上新台阶。