AVIC AC332
{{Short description|Chinese helicopter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2023}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name= AC332 | image=AVIC AC332 helicopter.jpg | caption=AVIC AC332 helicopter in Zhuhai airshow 2024 }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Helicopter | national origin=China | manufacturer=Aviation Industry Corporation of China | designer=Li Shengwei | first flight= 7 April 2023 | introduced= | retired= | status=Under development (2023) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The AVIC AC332 is a Chinese civil helicopter that is under development by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The AC 332's chief designer at AVIC is Li Shengwei. The aircraft is intended to be type certified for production.{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/chinese-twin-engine-helicopter-completes-first-test-flight/|title= Chinese Twin-Engine Helicopter Completes First Test Flight|access-date= 12 April 2023|last= Phelps|first= Mark|work= AVweb|date= 11 April 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230412141647/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/chinese-twin-engine-helicopter-completes-first-test-flight/|archive-date= 12 April 2023|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-04-11/avics-ac332-light-twin-helicopter-makes-first-flight|title= Avic's AC332 Light Twin Helicopter Makes First Flight|access-date= 12 April 2023|last= Mark|first= Huber|work= AINonline|date= 11 April 2023|archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230412150436/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-04-11/avics-ac332-light-twin-helicopter-makes-first-flight|archive-date= 12 April 2023|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/avics-ac332-helicopter-makes-maiden-sortie-nets-24-orders/152796.article|title= AVIC's AC332 helicopter makes maiden sortie, nets 24 orders|access-date= 12 April 2023|last= Chua|first= Alfred|work= Flight Global|date= 10 April 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230411100049/https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/avics-ac332-helicopter-makes-maiden-sortie-nets-24-orders/152796.article|archive-date= 11 April 2023|url-status= live}}
The design prototype had its first flight on 7 April 2023.
The AC332 designation was previously applied to an unrelated project for a scaled down version of the Russian Mil Mi-26 that was to have first flown in 2032.
Design and development
The aircraft is intended as a utility helicopter for personnel transport, search and rescue and law enforcement, including high density altitude operations. The design features a single, four-bladed main rotor, a fenestron tail rotor, twin engines, an enclosed cabin and skid-type landing gear.
The design has seating for two crew members and ten passengers. It is expected to have a lower price than comparable western helicopters.
The aircraft has a gross weight of {{convert|3850|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, a maximum cruising speed of {{convert|260|km/h|kn|0|abbr=on}}, a service ceiling of {{convert|6000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and a range of {{convert|693|km|nmi|0|abbr=on}}. Maximum take-off altitude is {{convert|4500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.
The prototype was first flown on 7 April 2021 and type certification is forecast to be completed in 2025.
Aviation writer Mark Huber described the design as "stylistically a cross between the Bell 429 and the Airbus H145".
Operators
In April 2023, the company reported that it had orders for 24 aircraft, including six for an aircraft leasing company based in Xiamen and 18 for a consortium of Chinese general aviation operators.
Specifications (AC332)
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See also
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