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China's Light Attack Helicopter Z-19: a silent (rather than radar evading) chopper
The use of the word ‘Stealth’ is probably a little too strong a term for this new helicopter as the stealth used is not in the classical sense. In the case of the Z-19, it’s acoustic stealthiness along with exhausts that shield the aircraft from Infra-red threats, rather than radar-absorbing materials and shapes like the modified Stealth Black Hawk used in the Osama Bin Laden raid.
The Z-19 is being developed by Harbin Aircraft Industrial Corporation and is suspected to operate alongside the larger Z-10 which is roughly the size of a Ah-64 Apache and is more of a tank killer. Moreover, the Z-10 is now entering front line service with the smaller Z-19 a few years behind.
The Z-19 is roughly the size of an OH-58 Kiowa and made its first flight in May 2010. Although it has been reported that one prototype was lost during September 2010, there are no details of the cause of the crash or even if there were fatalities. The fuselage is the usual slim tandem cockpit design, although unlike most gunship designs the pilot sits in the front seat with the gunner in the elevated rear seat. The chin turret sits in the usual place and the cabin has the distinct look of the Agusta A-129 about it.
Moving to the rear of the aircraft, the Z-19 has exhuasts that point up reducing the infra-red signature, ‘stubby’ wings with hard points and the tail boom whose look remind the AH-66 Comanche with the fenestron tail. It’s the latter that gives clues to its acoustic damping that is ideal for a forward scout able to creep up on an unsuspecting enemy or provide targeting data for its partner in crime the Z-10.
The Z-19 boasts armour plating for its crew along with crash resisting seats; the chin turret has FLIR, TV and a laser range finder. The chopper can carry a wide weapons load including 23mm gun pods, anti-tank and air-to-air missiles giving it a wide-ranging punch. A range of 700km, a service ceiling of 2,400 m and a cruising speed of 245 km/h finishes off the performance figures.
The most interesting thing about the z-19, other than its obvious evolution over previous designs, is its export potential to countries that do not have the big budgets and are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Apache’s, Hinds and Z-10s.
China could find it has a best seller on its hands if it capitalizes on the new helicopters potential.
Its in service date is unknown. However, since it is currently in an advanced flight testing program, the PLAAF should be taking delivery of the Z-19 within the next few years.
The Aviationist » China's Light Attack Helicopter Z-19: a silent (rather than radar evading) chopper
Harbin Z-19 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediait is an up-gunned variant of the Harbin Z-9 and hence a distant cousin of the Eurocopter Dauphin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FenestronA Fenestron (or fantail, sometimes called "fan-in-fin") is a shrouded tail rotor of a helicopter that is essentially a ducted fan. The housing is integral with the tail skin and like the conventional tail rotor it replaces, it is intended to counteract the torque of the main rotor. It was originally conceived by Sud Aviation (now Eurocopter, part of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS)).
While conventional tail rotors typically have two or four blades, Fenestrons have between eight and 18 blades. These may have variable angular spacing, so that the noise is distributed over different frequencies and thus sounds quieter. The housing allows a higher rotational speed than a conventional rotor, allowing it to have smaller blades.
The term Fenestron is a trademark of Eurocopter.
same source as aboveAdvantages
Increased safety for people on the ground, the enclosure provides peripheral protection;
Greatly reduced noise and vibration, due to the enclosure of the blade tips and the greater number of blades;
A lower susceptibility to foreign object damage, as the enclosure makes it less likely to suck in loose objects such as small rocks;[citation needed]
Enhanced anti-torque control efficiency
The Fenestron's disadvantages are those common to all ducted fans when compared to propellers. They include:
An increase in weight and air resistance brought by the enclosure;
Higher construction and purchasing cost.
this is z-19
New Recruit
Boeing-Sikorsky pledge to more than double US Army's initial JMR investment
Boeing and Sikorsky will more than double the US government's spending if the team is chosen to build and demonstrate a rotorcraft for the US Army's Joint Multirole (JMR) helicopter programme, according to a Boeing executive.
"Together, Boeing and Sikorsky are planning to invest significantly more than what the government is investing," Leanne Caret, vice-president of Boeing's vertical lift division, said during a 29 July interview.
Caret added she anticipates inking a JMR Technology Demonstrator (TD) Phase 1 agreement in September and to down-select in June of next year. A first flight of the technologies is scheduled for 2017.
AVX Aircraft Company and Bell Helicopter, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., were also chosen to sign TD 1 contracts separately.
The Boeing and Sikorsky teams are co-located in Shelton, CT. Caret declined to answer work-split details but said elements of current Boeing product lines will be applied to Sikorsky's X2 coaxial rotor and pusher-propeller design.
Boeing-Sikorsky pledge to more than double US Army's initial JMR investment - IHS Jane's 360
Boeing-Sikorsky pledge to more than double US Army's initial JMR investment
Boeing and Sikorsky will more than double the US government's spending if the team is chosen to build and demonstrate a rotorcraft for the US Army's Joint Multirole (JMR) helicopter programme, according to a Boeing executive.
"Together, Boeing and Sikorsky are planning to invest significantly more than what the government is investing," Leanne Caret, vice-president of Boeing's vertical lift division, said during a 29 July interview.
Caret added she anticipates inking a JMR Technology Demonstrator (TD) Phase 1 agreement in September and to down-select in June of next year. A first flight of the technologies is scheduled for 2017.
AVX Aircraft Company and Bell Helicopter, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., were also chosen to sign TD 1 contracts separately.
The Boeing and Sikorsky teams are co-located in Shelton, CT. Caret declined to answer work-split details but said elements of current Boeing product lines will be applied to Sikorsky's X2 coaxial rotor and pusher-propeller design.
Boeing-Sikorsky pledge to more than double US Army's initial JMR investment - IHS Jane's 360