CHAIG Z-8
Changhe Aircraft Industry Group · China · first flew 1985 · helicopter
The Z-8 is a large three-engine medium-lift transport helicopter derived from the French Aerospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon and built by Changhe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Boat-hull amphibious fuselage with sponsons |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Boat-hull amphibious fuselage with sponsons
- Six-bladed main rotor, three-engine layout
- Large medium-lift transport class helicopter
Identify it by the amphibious boat-shaped hull with side sponsons, the six-bladed main rotor, and the tall tail boom carrying a five-bladed tail rotor.
Specifications
- The CHAIG Z-8 has a length of 23.035 m (76 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.9 m (62 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 315 km/h (196 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
China acquired Super Frelons in the 1970s and reverse-engineered the design, with the first indigenous Z-8 flying in December 1985. Series production was slow to mature, but later WZ-6 and imported-engine variants improved reliability and lift.
Variants
Versions span naval anti-submarine and transport models, the Z-8A army transport, the plateau-optimised Z-8G, and the modernised Z-8L wide-body derivative. Civil AC313 variants were developed for the commercial and rescue markets.
Where you'll see it
The Z-8 serves the People's Liberation Army ground, naval and air arms in transport, search-and-rescue and shipborne roles. It has no UK operators; its relevance to a British audience is chiefly as China's counterpart to Western medium-lift types such as the Merlin.
Related aircraft
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