Turbomeca has performed the first run of its new Ardiden 3C helicopter engine which has been jointly developed with China's AVIC Engine.
The milestone for the turboshaft powerplant was conducted at Turbomeca's Bordes plant in the south of France.
To power the AVICopter AC352 - the Chinese-built version of the Eurocopter EC175 - the Ardiden 3, called the WZ16 in China, is for use on helicopters in the 6-8t class.
The engine manufacturer says the test confirms the "good aeromechanical behavior and performance" of the powerplant. "Preliminary testing of its major components has demonstrated the relevance of the technological choices," it says.
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6C engines power the EC175.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
