Chinese state-owned aircraft company Avic is developing two variants of an “ultra fast” 270-knot tiltrotor code-named “Blue Whale,” English-language newspaper China Dailyreported late last month. Unlike tiltrotors such as the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey or Leonardo AW609, the Blue Whale is a quad proprotor design. Avic chief helicopter designer Wu Ximing said that the aircraft would be “China's equivalent of the V-22 Osprey” and used for disaster relief, supply airdrop and search-and-rescue operations.
A medium variant is said to have an mtow of 44,090 pounds/20 metric tons and a heavy variant will have twice that capacity. Initial targeted range is 1,674 nm/3,100 km.
Avic has not yet set a timetable for the program, with a company official saying only that he expects development to take “a long time.” The V-22 made its first flight in 1989 and did not become operational until 2007, and the AW609 made its first flight in 2003 and is still under development.