Chinese-made Helicopter Gets Civil Flight License for First TimeThe General Administration of Civil Aviation of China issued a civil flight license for the Zhi- 9A, Monday, making it the first Chinese-made helicopter to get the certificate.A Shenzhen-based company has purchased five Zhi-9As to become its first commercial user, according to official sources. The Zhi-9A, with a net weight of 2 tons and a maximal capacity of 2.4 tons, can fly at a maximal height of 6,000 meters and at a maximal speed of 296 kilometers per hour. It made its maiden flight in January 1992 and was exported for the first time in February 2000. In the 1980s, Zhi-9A was developed by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, based on French technology to produce the "Dolphin " helicopters. The Chinese manufacturer, which is headquartered in Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province, in northeast China, has turned out over 1,000 planes and helicopters. |
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