Bronco NB5046 Harbin Z-9WA Military Utility Helicopter

The Harbin Z-9 is a modern Chinese multi-role helicopter with a retractable landing gear in a classic layout with a main rotor. but with a fenestron on the tail beam. The drive is provided by two WZ-8A or WZ-8C turboshaft engines (licensed versions of the Turbomeca Arriel engine) with a capacity of 748 or 863 HP each. The flight of the first prototype took place in 1981, but the machine did not enter the lines of the Chinese army until 1994. It is estimated that at present there are over 200 machines of this type in it.

The Harbin Z-9 is a license version of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin helicopter. The first production series of this helicopter were created with considerable French help and with the use of many foreign components, but with the Z-9B version the condition changed quite significantly - many more elements of domestic production began to be used. Minor design changes were also introduced, including: the construction of the fenestron on the tail beam was changed. Several versions of this helicopter were created in the course of production, for example: Z-9B (multi-role version, dedicated to the Chinese army), Z-9C (sea version, intended for the navy) or Z-9EC (sea version, intended for Pakistan).