Heavy-lift project spins up as pair sign rotary pact

摘要

Russian Helicopters and Chinese state-owned aircraft manufacturer AVIC have entered a framework agreement to develop a heavy-lift helicopter. "The manufacture in China of a heavy-lift helicopter developed jointly by the two countries has been an important component of Russian-Chinese collaboration in the aviation industry, and [the] signing ceremony marks the start of practical work on the project," says Russian Helicopters. Called the Advanced Heavy Lift, it is intended to have a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 38t and be able to carry l0t internally, and 15t on an external sling. The Mil Mi-26, the world's largest helicopter, can carry an internal or underslung payload of over 20t, with a MTOW of 56t.