China's Hongdu Aviation Industry is to re-engine its N-5 agricultural aircraft with the Orenda Recip OE600 450kW (600hp) V8 piston engine. The Canadian company will supply 21 firewall-forward engine kits next year, with an option for 20 more. The kit is based on the Orenda-re-engined Air Tractor 301/401, certification of which is imminent.
The original Textron Lycoming-powered N-5 was certificated by China in 1992. Hongdu hopes for US approval of the re-engined N-5, which will be sold to North and South America, western China and the Middle East.
Orenda meanwhile says Turkish Aircraft Industries has resumed flight-testing the OE600-powered Ziu agricultural aircraft. after a delay caused by the country's economic crisis.
Source: Flight International
