The Z-8 (Z-8) is the People's Republic of China's copy of the French SA321 Super Wasp helicopter. It was jointly developed by the China Helicopter Design and Research Institute and Changhe Machinery Factory (now Changhe Aircraft Industry Company). It was developed in 1976 and made its first flight in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province on December 11, 1985. In 1989, the first production version of the ZH-8 was delivered to the PLA Naval aviation force, with mine-sweeping and anti-submarine capabilities. [1] In 1997, the machine won the second prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award. [2] Zhi-8 production has been small after mass production, so it is speculated that there may be some technical bottlenecks. In addition, before 2005, the PLA Navy was not equipped with a large number of large surface ships, and small and medium-sized ships were more suitable for light helicopters such as Z-9, so the total number was about 15-20. After 2005, the outside world speculated that due to the breakthrough of mass production technology and the acquisition of new engines, the Z-8F model was more exposed in the media and air shows. In 2007, with the launch of large amphibious ships, the PLA Navy began to install the Z-8F in large quantities, and more than 100 have been installed so far. A civilian version, called the AC313, appeared. [3]
直-8（Z-8）是中华人民共和国仿制法国SA321“超黄蜂”直升机的版本，由中国直升机设计研究所、昌河机械厂（现为昌河飞机工业公司）等单位共同研制。1976年开始研制，1985年12月11日在江西景德镇首飞。1989年，首架生产型直-8交付中国人民解放军海军航空兵使用，有扫布雷和反潜能力。[1]1997年该机获得国家科技进步二等奖。[2]直-8量产后产量一直不大，因此外界推测可能有某些技术瓶颈。加上2005年前，解放军海军尚未大量装备大型水面舰艇，中小型舰艇上更适合直-9之类轻型直升机，因此总量约15-20架之间。2005年后，外界猜测是因量产技术获得突破与新发动机的取得，直-8F型较多于媒体和航展上曝光。2007年，解放军海军配合大型两栖舰艇的下水，开始大批量列装直-8F，目前已超过百架。并出现了名为AC313的民用机版。[3]