[Vehicle] Some New Whirlybirds

[Rhino]

Hey guys, over the past few months I've been working hard to finish the Zhi-9 and Panther series of helicopters for the mod, picking up from where [R-DEV]Foul_Killer had left off after he no longer had enough time to finish this model. Since then I've been busy fixing up any errors, adding lots of bits of detail, remodelling a bunch of stuff with also modifying the chopper into a Eurocopter Panther for both the Brazilian and French factions, bring a total of four new unique choppers to the table




Zhi-9 - Light Transport Helicopter: PLA

The Zhi-9 (Z-9) is a Chinese, licensed-built version of the Eurocopter AS 365N Dauphin II. The Z-9 is possibly the most produced helicopter in China, with over 200 machines delivered to both military and civilian customers. The Z-9 full fills the role of light transport and utility helicopter in the PLA and ingame will be able to carry upto a full squad of troops into battle.

Note: Cockpit Textures are only place holders right now.
(Click to Enlarge)

Zhi-9WA - Light Attack Helicopter: PLA

Harbin Aircraft Manufacture Corporation (HAMC) began to develop an attack helicopter based on the Zhi-9 army utility helicopter in the mid-1980s. The early versions of this attack helicopter, designated Zhi-9W (Z-9W, aka WZ-9), featured a pair of external weapon pylon and a roof-mounted optical sight for target searching and tracking in daylight. The helicopter was mainly intended for anti-armour warfare role, carrying four HJ-8 wire-guided anti-tank missiles. Alternatively, the helicopter could carry guided rocket pods or machine gun pods for close air support role.

In 2005, HAMC introduced an improved “night attack variant”, also known as Z-9WA (aka WZ-9A). The most notable improvement was an under-nose observing and tracking unit housing a low-light TV and an infrared search and track (IRST), allowing the helicopter to operate in all-weather, day/night conditions. Other improvements included redesigned weapon pylons similar to those of the French AS 565 Panther, a self-defence electronic warfare suite and a new cockpit with multi-function displays (MFD).

For Project Reality we will have 4 separate versions of the Z-9WA, each carrying a different load out of weapons. The first being kitted out with 8, HJ-8 Anti-Tank wire guided missiles. The second will be kitted out with two, HF-7D, 90mm rocket pods carrying 7 rockets each (14 rockets total). The third setup will have two, HF-25, 57mm rocket pods carrying 18 rockets each (36 rockets total). The fourth and final version will carry two 23-II, 23mm guns with 240 rounds each (480 rounds total). Each version will be used on maps in terms to which version suits the map best.

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Also I crated some new "projectiles" for these new weapons. The first being the long awaited HJ-8 missile (The current HJ-8 missile ingame actually fires a TOW missile ) and some HF-25 and HF-7D rockets

HM-1 Pantera - Light Transport Helicopter: Brazilian Army

The HM-1 Pantera (Panther SA 365 K) is the first version of the Panther, based on the AS365 N2. Although very similar to the Z-9, it dose have a few differences like its longer nose, different air filters over the engine intakes etc. Ingame it will serve as the light transport helicopter for the Brazilian Forces, being able to swiftly drop a full squad of troops into battle.

(Click to Enlarge)

AS 565 MB Panther - Naval Helicopter: FNA

The AS 565 MB Panther is France's Naval search & rescue version of the AS365 N3, currently in production. The main missions of this version are anti-surface vessel warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue (SAR), troop transport, logistic support, and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC)/medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). This version is fitted with a quick-securing 'Harpoon' deck securing device that allows it to land on and take off from ships, whatever the relative wind direction. Offered with various armaments, including cabin-mounted 20mm cannon, AS 15 TT anti-shipping missile, Mark 46 torpedo and Whitehead A.244/S torpedo.

The version we have made here is the Mk2 version currently in production (but not yet in service thou should be in the next few years) which features an upgraded cockpit, avionics, implementing an electro-optical FLIR, improve the tactical system and develop a system of self-protection.

The main role of this helicopter ingame will be light transport on maps which feature a naval presence with the helicopter being able to transport a full squad into battle, with also being able to laze targets from the air.

(Click to Enlarge)

And that's about it, these are now going to be shipped off to be textured but with the limited amount of texture artists we have in our team I can't say how long that's going to take but hopefully we will see these new birds ingame "soon"

Cheers!

[Rhino]

FAQ

Q: Will the Z-9 and Z-9WA replace the "current Chinese Little Bird" (WZ-11) ingame?

A: The "current chinese little bird" is a WZ-11 which is pretty different from a Z-9 and Z-9WA. The WZ-11 will probably stay for the purposes of a scout chopper only but the Z-9 and Z-9WA will most likley replace it on most maps, in its first release it will probably fully replace the WZ-11 but you will probably see the WZ-11 in the future.

Q: How is the HJ-8 missile system gonna work on the Z-9WA?

A: The HJ-8 missiles we are not 100% sure yet but what we will most likley have is a realistic setup of it where the co-pilot controls them (while looking though the camera on the nose) and since they are wire guided he will have to keep his course over the target from launch to impact.

Here is a good documentary on the Lynx with TOW missiles in Iraq which is quite similar to the Z-9WA with HJ-8 missiles in many ways (and before everyone starts suggesting we should make a Lynx with TOW missiles, its going out of service since the Apache full fills the role better ). If you watch near the end of the video at around 40mins you can see how the TOW missiles work

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

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[HeXeY]

AWESOMENESS!

Great work!

[[R-CON]AnimalMother]

bloody brilliant! Cant wait to crash these bad boys into trees, buildings and hills!

[[R-CON]Sgt_Doctor]

Many thanks Rhino.

Great work !

[Sniper77shot]

Looks good as always.

[EnermaX]

Awesome. Thank you.

[Arnoldio]

Hahaha, Im gonna be taking over those towns with those.

YouTube Video

[[R-CON]Tomato-Rifle]

Beautiful! I cant wait to fly all of them!

[[R-DEV]Hauteclocque]

You have made an awesome work Rhino. Thanks again to have pushed the detail to this point for the French version.