China unveils crewed tilt-rotor aircraft but how does it compare with US Osprey?

A Chinese version of the US military’s Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft has been captured conducting what appears to be its maiden flight in a photograph that began circulating on social media in China on Monday.

The picture shows a white prototype tilt-rotor aircraft hovering in front of a residential building with its rotors positioned vertically, indicating that it was in helicopter mode.

The cockpit design suggests it is crewed, although it is unclear from the photo whether there is a pilot on board. If confirmed as manned, it would be China’s first crewed tilt-rotor aircraft.

No details were given of when the photo was taken, but the location was claimed to be near a facility belonging to Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, a subsidiary of state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Another photo showed two apparently incomplete aircraft inside a hangar, with some mechanical structures exposed.

A tilt-rotor merges a helicopter’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability with the significantly higher speed, range and altitude of a fixed-wing turboprop aeroplane. Its proprotors pivot 90 degrees between helicopter mode and high-speed forward flight.

But this versatility brings with it significant mechanical complexity, resulting in high procurement and maintenance costs, as well as safety concerns.