The Chinese aviation exhibits itself in Zhuhai

From November 13 to 18, the city of Zhuhai (Guangdong) welcomes AirshowChina on the airfield. This year, China has focused its drones and helicopters.

China introduced its Pterodactyl drone, also known as Wing Loong on the Zhuhai Airshow static. The public had seen so far as such models at the Paris Airshow in 2011. The cost of the Pterodactyl is estimated at nearly a million dollars from the Chinese media, which is much lower than that of unmanned American and Israeli.

    Pterodactyl at the Zhuhai Airshow.

Designed and developed by the Aviation Institute of Chengdu, the Pterodactyl made its first test flight in 2008.It measures 9.34 meters long, its wingspan is 14 m. Weighing just over a ton, it is able to perform missions at an altitude of 5300 meters. The Pterodactyl also displays a flight range of 4000 km.

For its part, Aviation Industry Coporation of China (AVIC) presented a model of a MALE UAV whose silhouette reminiscent of General Atomics Avenger. It is equipped with a camera and four turret hardpoints under the wings can receive-air missiles similar to U.S. Hellfire. The UAV also seems to have a turbojet on the back of the fuselage.

The Chinese are therefore considerable progress in the field of UAV systems despite some accidents . In mid-2011, when annual output of Chinese Navy in the disputed waters between the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyakojima islands, the Japanese naval forces had identified a previously unknown Chinese weapon : a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, apparently launched from the deck of a warship.

                                                                                              The Pioneer 01.

China has also exhibited the CJ-1000A engine, built by AVIC. This turbofan aircraft equip large Chinese civilians. The end of the research in 2016. But the engine is still weak China depends heavily on major manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney and Safran.

But AVIC especially promoted helicopters as the AC311 . This is a cross between a Eurocopter AS350 and EC120. With a maximum takeoff weight of 2200 kg can carry up to six people.

A model of a future helicopter "Pioneer 01" was also presented. Characteristics indicate that it is a high-speed helicopter with a rotor coaxial rigid wing equipped with two propellers, to keep hovering at low speed, and landing gear tricycle. A concept reminiscent of the Eurocopter X3 .

Military Region Guangzhou have also stolen the new brigade combat helicopters WZ-10 manufactured in China (photo above). This helicopter ground attack units deployed in China since February 2011 and the first copy was stolen April 29, 2003.

 None of the two Chinese stealth fighter J-20 and J-31 was stolen during the exhibition. Only a model of the J-31 sat in the main hall. In contrast, the JF-17 from Pakistan ensured the show. Pakistani pilot even waved a red flag to 5 stars before takeoff as a sign of friendship between China and Pakistan jointly developed the JF-17 since 1999.