Recently, the AC332 "Auspicious Bird" helicopter developed by Harbin Aviation Industry Corporation of China successfully completed a high-cold envelope expansion test flight at Genhe Airport in Inner Mongolia, successfully extending the low-temperature envelope to minus 40°C.This test flight fully verified the aircraft's comprehensive performance in extremely cold environments, laid a key foundation for subsequent model certification, and also marked its ability to perform diverse tasks in alpine regions.
During the test flight, the AC332 helicopter completed 10 flight tests totaling 11 hours and 24 minutes, 4 ground tests totaling 2 hours and 15 minutes, and completed 16 test projects including training mode parameter adjustment in alpine environments, Class B takeoffs, control characteristics and stability, environmental control systems and hydraulic systems.
This test flight aims to verify the reliability and safety of various systems and components of the AC332 helicopter in high-cold environments, so that it can meet various tasks such as material delivery, search and rescue, and medical transportation under high-cold conditions.
High-cold test flights are an important means to verify the reliability performance of aviation equipment in all-terrain and all-weather use, and are also a "required subject" before obtaining a type certificate.
Its core is to verify the function, performance and reliability of the entire aircraft system and components in extremely cold climates to meet airworthiness and safety requirements.
This high-cold test flight is an important step in the development and testing of the AC332 helicopter. Its development and test flight process has completed many key nodes:
In June 2025, the plateau test flight was completed in Lugu Lake to verify the adaptability to the plateau environment and lay the foundation for the high-plateau test flight;
In December 2025, Sanjiang, under construction, completed the applicant verification test flight and officially entered the regulatory approval stage;
In February 2026, the alpine envelope expansion test flight was completed in Genhe, breaking through the low temperature use limit of minus 40°C.
