Lijiang: With a snow-capped mountain as a backdrop, helicopter designer Li Shengwei closely monitored an AC332 helicopter undergoing its plateau flight test at Ninglang Lugu Lake Airport in Lijiang, Yunnan Province.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the AC332 helicopter, a dual-engine multipurpose civil helicopter developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is specially designed for plateau missions. It recently completed its flight test at the high-altitude Ninglang Yi Autonomous County airport, located 3,292.9 meters above sea level. Li Shengwei, the designer, emphasized the helicopter's capability to fly over the snow mountains and its potential to land at the base camp of Mount Qomolangma for various missions.
Safety, being the utmost priority, is thoroughly evaluated during these flight tests to confirm the helicopter's operations under diverse conditions, including extreme weather. Wu Zhiyao, a flight test technician at the AVIC HAIG Aircraft Design and Research Institute, highlighted the importance of the flight test phase for obtaining an airworthiness certificate. The AC332 is crafted for plateau conditions, capable of taking off and landing at altitudes of 4,500 meters and operating up to 6,000 meters.
The thin air in plateau regions poses significant challenges for helicopters. The AC332's flight test in such conditions aims to establish the flight envelope, ensuring safe and efficient operations. The data collected will aid in drafting a flight manual for future operations, as per Wu.
The helicopter, designed with a flight ceiling of no less than 7,000 meters, aims to transport people and freight across diverse terrains, including mountains and grasslands. Li Shengwei stressed the importance of a comprehensive scientific flight test to verify the AC332's performance in normal and extreme plateau conditions.
The AC332's skid landing gear, designed for larger ground contact, enhances its adaptability and safety, making it suitable for medical and emergency rescue missions. This feature caters to China's varied demands, especially in plateau and mountainous areas.
The helicopter completed 38 flight movements, totaling 27 hours and 38 minutes of flight time, verifying its performance in categories like hovering, take-off, landing, and single-engine failure maneuverability. The AC332 and its team are set to face new challenges with an upcoming extreme-cold flight test in Mohe, China's northernmost city.
"Experience and confidence are boosted by actions. Looking forward, higher goals are ahead," Li Shengwei concluded, expressing optimism about future endeavors.