Harbin SH-5 explained

SH-5
Type:	Maritime patrol amphibian/air-sea rescue
First Flight:	3 April 1976^[1]
Introduction:	1986
Number Built:	7 ^[2]

The Harbin SH-5 (where "水轰" is short for) is a Chinese maritime patrol amphibious aircraft intended for a wide range of duties, including aerial firefighting, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and air-sea rescue (ASR). One prototype and six production aircraft have been built.

Design and development

Research to build a seaplane capable of replacing Beriev Be-6s in service was initiated by the PLANAF in 1968, with designers reassigned from "Objective 3/17", a supersonic canard-wing fighter project. The first prototype flew in 1976; further units were delivered between 1986 and 1990.

Variants

SH-5B Firefighter

One SH-5 was rebuilt for firefighting duties.^[2]

However, by a Chinese source, there were total of 7 SH-5 were produced: 3 SH-5X Prototype, 3 Maritime patrol aircraft, and 1 SH-B Firefighter.^[3]

Operators

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force received 4 aircraft in 1986.^[2] All are operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy North Sea Fleet from an aircraft base near Qingdao, Shandong province.^[4]

References

Notes

Book: Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide. 505. 1995. 978-0-00-470980-2. HarperCollinsPublishers. Glasgow, UK. registration.
Book: Jane's all the World's Aircraft. 1988. Jane's information Group. London. 0-7106-0867-5. John W.R. Taylor.
The Harbin SH-5
某型水上飞机水动力性能数值验证研究
PS-5 / SH-5 - Shuishang Hongzhaji (Maritime Bomber)
SH-5 Amphibious Aircraft, Chinese Defence Today

Notes and References

Web site: PS-5 / SH-5 - Shuishang Hongzhaji (Maritime Bomber). John Pike. 4 February 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150425235446/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/sh-5.htm. 25 April 2015.
Web site: The Shin Meiwa PS-1 / US-1 / US-2 & Harbin SH-5 Flying Boats. 4 February 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20141228094300/http://www.airvectors.net/avps1.html. 28 December 2014.
Web site: 某型水上飞机水动力性能数值验证研究. 4 February 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204124054/http://cdmd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CDMD-10487-1013015208.htm. 4 February 2015.
Web site: shenzhou_01. SinoDefence. 4 February 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130318044615/http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/specialaircraft/sh5.asp. 18 March 2013.