The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) displayed a model of a new heavy-lift helicopter during China Helicopter Exposition 2017.
AVIC showed the model of the new heavy-lift helicopter to be developed jointly by Russia and China. The helicopter will have a range of up to 800 kilometers, while its maximum speed will amount to 300 kph. The heavy-lift helicopter’s payload inside the cabin will total 10 tons, while its external payload will total up to 15 or 20 tons.
The new helicopter will be equipped with the new AI-136T turboshaft engines. The new engine is an upgraded version of D-136 and developed by the Ukrainian company Motor Sich and Ivchenko-Progress.
The AI-136T delivers 11,500 hp at maximum trust setting at surrounding temperatures of up to 50ºC. It also has an emergency mode which provides up to 14,500 hp. Maximum output of the original D-136 is 11,500 hp at temperatures no higher than 15ºC. So the new engine is expected to significantly improve the helicopter’s performance in hot-and-high conditions.
