Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province, east China - March 24, 2017
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1. Various of AC313 helicopter flying in rain

FILE: China - Exact Date Unknown
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2. Various of AC313
3. Various of AC313 flying, in garage

China's first heavy-lift helicopter, AC313, has passed all its airworthiness tests shortly ago; that's according to sources with the developer.

The most recent airworthiness test was held in heavy rain in Jingdezhen in east China's Jiangxi Province on March 24, according to the Changhe Aircraft Industry (Group) Co. Ltd. The group is a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corp. of China.

The civilian-purpose helicopter took off and landed in heavy rain without a hitch, with precipitation exceeding 0.03 inch within six minutes.

After take-off and before landing, the helicopter had to fly at comparatively high speed at an altitude of 200 to 500 meters over ground to prove it was airworthy in rains.

The AC313 had its maiden flight in Jingdezhen City in March 2010. It has done two trial flights on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau between 2010 and 2011.

The helicopter is suitable for emergency rescue operations, forest firefighting, transportation, offshore operations, medical aid, sightseeing and business trips.