N5B makes first flight in China by Yang Jiangshan Project Manager, Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industry Co., Ltd., Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, P.R. China NANCHANG, CHINA — Chinese aircraft manufacturer, Avic Hongdu on July 20, 2010 successfully completed the first flight of its serial number 003 N5B agforestry aircraft at Nanchang. The flight represents the significant progress of this new generation of aircraft for China. After completing
two high-speed taxis, Chief Pilot and Deputy General Manager of Changjiang General Aviation Company, Wang Quan, executed the first takeoff of S/N 003 at 16:12. Two rounds of the airport circuit were completed lasting 18 minutes. Hongdu Corporation is the sole producer of the N5B. The design of the Chinese N5B aircraft started in September of 2005. In January of 2006, Hongdu officially applied to Airworthiness Division of CAAC for
an airworthiness certificate. During 2006-2010, representatives of the Airworthiness Division inspected the aircraft’s flying load, ground load, structure strength and operating systems. S/N 003 N5B’s manufacture was based on S/N 001, which took its first flight in Nanchang on July 9, 2008. S/N 002 was part of the experimental version for the final development of S/N 003, which has been modified to improve the manufacturability and operational maintenance of the aircraft. In doing so, the newer design is stronger. The N5B design is taken from the N5A, an older generation
Chief Pilot Want Quan with N5B after successfully completing 18-minute test flight in Nanchang, China.
Chief Pilot Wang Quan boarding N5B aircraft for test flight.
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