The Z-8L helicopter made a rare appearance in a music video recently released by China’s Southern Theater about discharged aircraft officers and soldiers, this is another public appearance of the medium-sized helicopter since the CPC’s centennial celebration in July.
The Z-8L (wide-body helicopter) is the latest improved version of the Z-8 series, which is a more thorough “overhaul” of the previous Z-8/18 series to address defects such as narrow fuselage width, inability to carry tactical vehicles and low engine efficiency. The Z-8 helicopter, which has been in service for many years, is a 13-ton multipurpose transport helicopter designed and finalized in China in the 1990s, and was designed after the French SA-321 Super Frelon helicopter.
The Z-8L first appeared in public view on Aug. 17 last year, when the People’s Liberation Army’s Unit 32183 posted on social media that many of the equipment that couldn’t get inside the Z-8’s cargo hold in the past could now be easily transported, such as the Bobcat all-terrain vehicle.
Due to the increase in height of Z-8L helicopter, it is also possible to load other tactical vehicles with a body width of up to 2.3 meters and a body height of up to 2 meters: for example, the larger, better-protected and more maneuverable Mengshi off-road vehicle (first generation Mengshi with EQ2050 platform).
Compared to the former Z-8G, the Z-8L has changed the fuel tanks from under the passenger and cargo compartment floor to inside the wings on both sides of the fuselage. At the same time, the nose uses a new type of photoelectric turret, radar warning machine, infrared jamming ammunition and other self-defense systems to enhance survivability, similar to the U.S.-made CH-53 “Stallion” series helicopters.
In addition, as the front of the Z-8L looks like the Z-20, it has been praised by Chinese military fans for its good looks.