Description
The Harbin Z-5 (Zhishengji - helicopter) is a Chinese copy of the Soviet Mil Mi-4 piston engined helicopter. It was produced in the city of Harbin, China. The USSR provided China with blueprints in 1958, a few years before the Sino-Soviet split. First flight was in 1959, but serial production was delayed and didn’t start until the mid-1960’s. China has produced a number of unique variants, and the Z-5 is still in use with the PLA, PLAAF and PLANAF, although it seems to be no longer in production. China also exported a number of Z-5 to client states. About 545 were built.
