China unveils crewed tilt-rotor aircraft but how does it compare with US Osprey?

A Chinese version of the US military’s Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft has been captured conducting what appears to be its maiden flight in a photograph that began circulating on social media in China on Monday.

The picture shows a white prototype tilt-rotor aircraft hovering in front of a residential building with its rotors positioned vertically, indicating that it was in helicopter mode.

US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft pictured flying over the Pacific Ocean near Sydney in 2017. Photo: AFP

The cockpit design suggests it is crewed, although it is unclear from the photo whether there is a pilot on board. If confirmed as manned, it would be China’s first crewed tilt-rotor aircraft.

No details were given of when the photo was taken, but the location was claimed to be near a facility belonging to Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, a subsidiary of state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Another photo showed two apparently incomplete aircraft inside a hangar, with some mechanical structures exposed.

A tilt-rotor merges a helicopter’s vertical take-off/landing (VTOL) capability with the significantly higher speed, range and altitude of a fixed-wing turboprop aeroplane. Its proprotors pivot 90 degrees between helicopter mode and high-speed forward flight.

But this versatility brings with it significant mechanical complexity, resulting in high procurement and maintenance costs, as well as safety concerns.

South China Morning Post