First Prototype of Chinese Tiltrotor Makes Test Flight

The first prototype of a tiltrotor developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has made a test flight, according to Defence Blog.

Photos published this week show the aircraft bears notable similarities to the American Bell V-280 Valor. Like its U.S. counterpart, the engines remain fixed while the rotors and propeller shafts tilt to switch between vertical and horizontal flight.

The model features a straight wing with a propeller shaft, which allows one engine to power both rotors in the event of an engine failure, the report said.

A scale model of the aircraft was first unveiled at the 2022 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, where AVIC laid out its ambitions for a new-generation rotorcraft program.

The model flight indicates the project has advanced from concept studies to active flight testing.

Technical specifications such as payload, range and overall performance have not yet been disclosed.

The tiltrotor is expected to be presented during a military parade in Beijing on September 3rd. In recent days, Chinese social media users have circulated photos of new missile systems, armored vehicles and underwater drones seen during parade rehearsals.