China's AC332 Helicopter Completes Full-Aircraft Rain Test

TapTechNews September 23rd news, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China announced today that on September 20th, the Auspicious Bird AC332 helicopter completed the full-aircraft rain test.

This test simulated the state of the helicopter in an extremely heavy rainstorm environment. After the test, there was no leakage in the cockpit, verifying the rain and snow protection ability of AC332, which can ensure the flight safety of the crew in rainy and snowy weather. This test laid a solid foundation for the subsequent completion of AC332's flights in plateau, high plateau and severe weather.

TapTechNews note: AC332 is a new four-ton advanced twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter fully developed by the aviation industry, also known as the Auspicious Bird. Based on the concept of demand-side innovation, it is developed in accordance with the latest airworthiness requirements of CCAR-29, adopting a single rotor, high-mounted ducted tail rotor, skid landing gear and clam-shell rear hatch layout, and can carry 10 passengers, with a maximum takeoff weight of 3,850 pounds (about 1746.3 kilograms), a maximum cruising speed of 260 kilometers per hour, and a maximum range of 693 kilometers.

AC332 helicopter completed the detailed design review in 2019. In 2021, the sub-assembly and final assembly production lines were built and put into use in the Aviation Industry Tianzhi. In 2022, the aircraft completed the final assembly work. It is expected to obtain the type certificate in 2025.

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The domestic multi-purpose helicopter Auspicious Bird AC332 successfully completed its first flight and can carry 10 passengers.