Article Posted on : - Sep 06, 2013

The WZ-10 attack helicopter.

BEIJING (BNS): China's WZ-10 ingenuous military attack helicopters, forming an aerobatics team, have presented their maiden aerial show during a helicopter expo at the country's northern port city of Tianjin.

Five WZ-10s, forming the Fenglei (wind and thunder) aerobatic team, presented a series of aerial manoeuvres, including flying backward and nose-diving, on the inaugural day of the Second China Helicopter Expo on Thursday, local media reported.

"The Fenglei team was founded by the aviation wing of the People's Liberation Army ground force on Aug 25 and is the only helicopter aerobatic team in China," Sun Delong, who is in charge of the PLA ground force's aviation wing with the General Staff Headquarters, was quoted as saying by the China Daily.

The team adds to the six professional helicopter teams in the world, including the British Army Air Corps' Blue Eagles, Sarang of the Indian Air Force and the Patrulla Aspa of the Spanish Air Force, the report said.

Besides the WZ-10s, the Fenglei is also equipped with WZ-9 and WZ-19 attack helicopters, it said.

The WZ-10 combat chopper, built by the Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC), had successfully launched first air-to-air missiles during a recent military drill involving the army aviation troops of the People's Liberation Army.

The two-seat helicopter, first unveiled during the Zhuhai Air Show in 2012, is primarily built for anti-tank missions and can deploy up to 16 anti-tank guided missiles which include the indigenously-built HJ-8, HJ-9 and HJ-10. It also has limited capability to carry out air-to-air (anti-helicopter) operations.

Over 200 domestic and overseas manufacturers and suppliers are taking part in the Second China Helicopter Expo, pegged as a major international event for the helicopter industry.