Engineering:Harbin Z-5
| Harbin Z-5 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Harbin Z-5 holding a hover | |
| Role | Transport helicopter/Utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation |
| Designer | Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant |
| First flight | 14 December 1958 |
| Status | Retired from active service |
| Primary user | China |
| Number built | 558 |
| Developed from | Mil Mi-4 |
| Variants | Harbin/CHDRI Z-6 |
The Harbin Z-5 (Zhishengji – helicopter) is a Chinese variant of the Soviet Mil Mi-4 piston powered helicopter. Before its discontinuation from service, it was produced in Harbin, China.
History
The USSR provided China with Mi-4 blueprints just a few years before the Sino-Soviet split in 1958. Maiden flight was in 1958 and mass production started in the mid-1960s. China has produced a number of unique variants through this model, and the Z-5 was employed by the PLA, PLAAF and PLANAF in large numbers as reserve forces. A total of 558 Z-5 were built. A few Z-5 helicopters were modified to carry machine-guns and rocket pods.[1]
During the Chinese-Western rapprochement, one Z-5 was refitted with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-6 "Twin Pac" turbo-shaft engine in 1979. Some sources refer to this as the Z-6, but this variant was discontinued after its first model.[2]
Variants
- Z-5
- Military transport helicopter.
- Z-5 assault helicopter
- Some Z-5 were converted to carry rocket pods on outriggers in addition to a gondola with a forward firing machine gun manned by the flight engineer.
- Z-5 Xuanfeng
- Civil transport helicopter.
- Z-5 VIP helicopter
- VIP versions distinguishable by larger rectangular windows in the cabin.
- Z-5 agricultural helicopter
- Some Z-5s were fitted with chemical hoppers and/or spray gear for agricultural or forestry protection use.
- Z-5 SAR helicopter
- Thirteen z-5s are known to have been converted to SAR helicopters with a winch and external fuel tanks.
- Harbin/CHDRI Z-6
- A turboshaft variant of the Z-5, eleven aircraft built.
Operators
Albania
North Korea
Khmer Rouge
- National Army of Democratic Kampuchea[6] Status unknown after 1990s.
People's Republic of China
- People's Liberation Army Air Force [7]
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force[8]
- People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force [9]
Specifications (Z-5)
Data from Chinese Aircraft[10]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Capacity: 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) normal payload, 1,550 kg (3,417 lb) maximum internal payload, 1,300 kg (2,866 lb) maximum slung payload.
- Length: 25.017 m (82 ft 1 in) including main rotor and tail rotor
- Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,600 kg (16,755 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Dongan HS-7 14-cylinder, two-row, air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,250 kW (1,680 hp)
- Main rotor diameter: 21 m (68 ft 11 in)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn)
- Ferry range: 780 km (480 mi, 420 nmi) with external fuel tanks
See also
Related development
- Mil Mi-4
- Harbin/CHDRI Z-6
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists
References
- ↑ "AirForceWorld.com Z5 Helicopter Armed Version". AirForceWorld.com. http://airforceworld.com/pla/z5-helicopter-china.htm.
- ↑ Source: www.vectorsite.net by Greg Goebel (public domain)
- ↑ "Albania Air Force Unit History". aeroflight.co.uk. http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/albania/af/units/4040.htm.
- ↑ "Albanian Harbin-Z-5". Demand media. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Albania---Air/Harbin-Z-5/1132966/L/&sid=40f825d22f16f6db36e462a465df13a9.
- ↑ "Portfolio: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Air Force". .acig.org. http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_178.shtml.
- ↑ Gunston, An Illustrated Guide to Military Helicopters (1981), p. 112.
- ↑ "Harbin Z-5". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/z-5.htm.
- ↑ Helicopters: An Illustrated History Of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. 2005. ISBN 9781851094684. https://books.google.com/books?id=xLis8p7uLaUC&q=Z-5+helicopter+China+Army&pg=PA90.
- ↑ People's Liberation Army Navy: Combat System Technology, 1949–2010. Naval Institute Press.. 2011. ISBN 9781612510323. https://books.google.com/books?id=ERwSQC8r868C&q=Z-5+helicopter+China+Navy&pg=PT142.
- ↑ Gordon, Yefim; Dmitry Komissarov (2008). Chinese Aircraft. Manchester: Hikoki Publications. pp. 263–266. ISBN 9-781902-109046. https://archive.org/details/chineseaircraftc1951gord.
Bibliography
- Bill Gunston, An Illustrated Guide to Military Helicopters, Salamander Books Ltd, London 1981. ISBN:978-0861011100
 |  |
