Harbin Z-5

The Harbin Z-5 (Zhishengji - helicopter) is a Chinese copy of the Soviet Mil Mi-4 piston engined helicopter. It was produced in the city of Harbin, China. The USSR provided China with blueprints in 1958, a few years before the Sino-Soviet split. The first flight was in 1959, but serial production was delayed and did not start until the mid-1960s. China has produced a number of unique variants, and the Z-5 was in use with the PLA, PLAAF and PLANAF in large numbers, although it might still be in reserve.^[2] China also exported a number of Z-5 to client states. About 545 were built.^[1] A few Z-5 helicopters were modified to carry machine-guns and rocket pods.^[3]

One Z-5 was reengined with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-6 "Twin Pac" turboshaft in 1979, during the Chinese-Western rapprochement. Some sources refer to this as the Z-6, but the experiment went no further.^[4]

Variants

Z-5 of Albanian Air Forces

Z-5 

Military transport helicopter.

Z-5 assault helicopter

Some Z-5 were converted to carry rocket pods on outriggers in addition to a gondola with a forward firing machine gun manned by the Flight engineer.

Z-5 Xuanfeng 

Civil transport helicopter.

Z-5 VIP helicopter

VIP versions distinguishable by larger rectangular windows in the cabin.

Z-5 agricultural helicopter

Some Z-5s were fitted with chemicla hoppers and/or spray gear for agricultural or forestry protection use.

Z-5 SAR helicopter

Thirteen z-5s are known to have been converted to SAR helicopters with a winch and external fuel tanks.

Harbin/CHDRI Z-6 

A turboshaft variant of the Z-5, eleven aircraft built.

Military Operators

 Albania

• Albanian Air Force ^[5][6]

 Democratic People's Republic of Korea

• Korean People's Army Air Force ^[7]

 People's Republic of China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force ^[8]
• People's Liberation Army Ground Force ^[9]
• People's Liberation Navy ^[10]

Specifications (Z-5)

Data from Chinese Aircraft^[11]

See also

Related development

Harbin/CHDRI Z-6

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Mil Mi-4

Related lists

List of aircraft

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harbin Z-5.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Source: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mi-4.htm
2. ↑ Source: http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/aircraft.asp
3. ↑ "AirForceWorld.com Z5 Helicopter Armed Version". AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 30 May 2011. 
4. ↑ Source: www.vectorsite.net by Greg Goebel (public domain)
5. ↑ "Albania Air Force Unit History". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2013. 
6. ↑ "Albanian Harbin-Z-5". Demand media. Retrieved 17 February 2013. 
7. ↑ "Portfolio: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Air Force". .acig.org. Retrieved 17 February 2013. 
8. ↑ "Harbin Z-5". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 17 February 2013. 
9. ↑ Helicopters: An Illustrated History Of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. Retrieved 21 February 2013. 
10. ↑ People's Liberation Army Navy: Combat System Technology, 1949-2010. Naval Institute Press. Retrieved 20 February 2013. 
11. ↑ Gordon, Yefim; Dmitry Komissarov (2008). Chinese Aircraft. Manchester: Hikoki Publications. pp. 263–266. ISBN 9 781902 109046.  Cite uses deprecated parameters (help)