Aviation

Why is China concerned about the Ka 52 being shot down?

In the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, new information has emerged claiming a Russian Ka 52 has been shot down by Ukrainian defence forces. It appears that the pilot was uninjured. According to the visuals, the helicopter’s left armament compartment was damaged by ground missiles, and the helicopter crashed in the Babintsy Kyiv region..

Russia’s Ka 52 combat helicopter is one of the most anticipated combat helicopters in the world. It has a two-rotor mechanism that spins in opposite directions and inhibits the spinning.

As the viral video goes viral, it becomes clear that the pilot is unharmed because they were removed from the seat before the plane crashed.

Several regions have reported seeing a large number of helicopters approaching Kiev, Ukraine, as well as ground forces attacking them. The majority of helicopters land in the city, and some are shot down.

China chose the Ka52 for 36 chopper over the domestically made Z10 helicopter because it has more features than the Z10. The Russian Ka52 can carry a variety of armaments and conduct operations with ease.

The Ka-52K is a naval version of the Ka-52 Alligator that can carry strong anti-ship missiles with ranges of over 100 kilometers, as well as air-to-ground missiles, ground-attack rocket pods, a 30mm gun, and radars with ranges of over 200 kilometers.

This is how the ejection seat on a helicopter works. It is the first operating helicopter in the world with a rescue ejection system, which allows the pilot to escape at any height or speed. The Ka-50 has an NPP, K-37-800 ejection seat, which is an unusual feature for a helicopter, to improve pilot survivability. The rotor blades are blown away by explosive charges in the rotor disc before the rocket in the ejection seat deploys, and the canopy is jettisoned.

According to the most recent updates, this war is demonstrating the presence of actual players in the war difficulties. China is eagerly awaiting additional information about the shot down chopper.

Please let us know what you think about the ka52 helicopter in the comments section.

#ka-52 #Russia #Ukraine

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.