Things are slow in Eastern Europe these days and just a bit better
in Russia, but the Far East market, particularly mainland China,
looks good, says Pratt & Whitney Canada president Alain Bellemare.
Promising programs include plans for re-engining the Z-8 maritime
helicopter (an Aerospatiale SA-321 Super Frelon), each of which
will be powered by three new PT6B-67A engines, replacing its Chinese
WZ-6, or Turbomeca Turmo turboshafts. To date, more than 28 million
hours of PT6B operation have been logged.
Even better than the three-engined helicopter is the Y-8F600 utility
transport proposal from the Shaaxni Aircraft Company, using the
venerable Antonov An-12 airframe married to new, mainly Western
systems. P&WC is offering its PW150 turboprop for an intended
48-aircraft buy. "They use four engines," Bellemare
says of the Y-8F600. "Those are the type of aircraft that
we like."
