China's AC313 helicopter climbs to new heights

Edited and Translated by Ma Xi, People's Daily Online

The AC313 civilian helicopter, which was independently developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), climbed to a height of 8,000 meters at Gonghe airport in Qinghai province on Sept. 2, announced by AVIC yesterday.

The AC313 chopper finished its flight tests at Gonghe airport on Sept. 5.

A chief engineer of AVIC said the flight test proved the AC313 helicopter's performance and reliability can meet the particular requirements of plateau flight, and the China-made civilian helicopter can be applied to complicated altitude environments.

The AC313 helicopter made a successful maiden flight in March 2010. After improvements to its lift and avionic systems, it was first tested in a plateau area in September 2010.