Chinese rotorcraft developer Flightwin-Innovation is exploring a range of utility missions for its growing fleet of heavy-lift unmanned aircraft. Founded in 2008, Flightwin-Innovation has developed aircraft from the 200-kg mtow FHW-300 and the 1,000-kg FWH-1500 to the 2,500-kg, tandem-rotor FWH-3000. On exhibit this week during the Dubai Airshow are the FWH-1500 and the tandem FWH-3000.
With a maximum payload of 300 kg, the FWH-1500 can fly for five hours, the company said. The rotorcraft can be equipped with material boxes for delivery of items to locations in mountains, on island reefs, and in disaster areas either through rappel or airdrop. Furthermore, with fire-extinguishing bombs mounted, the FWH-1500 can cover an area of more than 50 sq km for fire reconnaissance, prevention, and suppression.
Other available applications include the addition of optoelectronic pods for reconnaissance or search and rescue missions in complex areas and terrains, as well as medical pods for emergency transport.
The aircraft has completed its first fire suppression application and participated in flood relief in Beijing over a 10-day stretch. Those missions involved night flights in heavy rain, delivering emergency medicine and other supplies.
The FWH-3000 helicopter has a 4.2-cubic-meter interior cabin capable of transporting six patients at the same time and a 1,000-kg max payload with a five-hour endurance. Flightwin designed the aircraft for long-range missions.
As for the smallest member of the unmanned family, the FW-300 carries a 50-kg maximum payload and flies for as long as four hours at a ceiling of 4,000 meters.
In addition to the various civil utility missions, the helicopters are designed for military logistics and army training, the company added.