AVIC AC311

Chinese state-owned helicopter-maker Avicopter has completed the design of its 2t civil helicopter, the AC311, and plans to build one in time for China's Zhuhai air show in November.
Avicopter says China Aviation Industry's (AVIC) Helicopter Design Institute has completed the design work and the project is entering the manufacturing phase.
The helicopter is designed for large-scale industrial production and will be competitively priced, it says.
Composite materials will be used for the fuselage and rotor blades, says Avicopter, which adds that the AC311 will be equipped with an advanced avionics system and the cabin will have sound absorption materials.
Avicopter says applications for the locally developed helicopter will include border patrol, police law enforcement, disaster relief, emergency rescue, transport, line inspections, air tourism, forest firefighting, aerial photography and other general aviation services.
In addition to the AC311, Avicopter is also designing a 1t helicopter, the AC310. On 18 March Avicopter made the first flight of its 13.8t AC313 helicopter.

Avic’s helicopter manufacturer Avicopter aims to achieve certification next November and complete first deliveries for its light commercial helicopter, the AC311, before the end of 2011.

The 2-metric-ton helicopter, which had its first flight on Nov. 8 near the Avicopter Tianjin assembly plant, has already secured orders from two Chinese police force customers, Avicopter President Wang Bin tells Aviation Week at Airshow China. The Guizhou city and Tianjin Binhai police forces have each ordered one AC311, he says. Wang also says Avicopter plans to market the aircraft overseas. The multipurpose helicopter can also be used for law enforcement, search and rescue, flight training, tourism, VIP transport and aerial photography.

The AC311 is powered by one Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 turboshaft engine. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 2.2 metric tons and can seat six people. Avicopter says composite materials are widely used in “the design of the rotor head, main blades and tail blades.” Wang says the main cabin is made of composite materials, but the “tail structure is made of aluminum to keep the price down.”