Wuhu’s aviation industry is developing rapidly

On the afternoon of August 20, in the workshop of China Electronics Technology Wuhu Diamond Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Diamond Aircraft) located in the Aviation Industrial Park of Wanzhi District, Wuhu City, several technical workers were inspecting a small aircraft.

“This aircraft is a DA42 twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft, which is a basic model and can only be used for training in aviation schools. The ‘Zhanhong’ air emergency command aircraft is equivalent to an upgraded version of the DA42 twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft. It is mainly used in emergency command and disaster relief. Some time ago, it also successfully completed the flood fighting and rescue tasks in Liaoning and Huangshan.” A staff member of Diamond Aircraft told Anhui.com reporters.

Diamond Aircraft was established in 2013 with a total investment of 1.51 billion yuan. It is the only national and local joint engineering research center and academician workstation for the research and development of light general aircraft in China authorized by the National Development and Reform Commission of China. As the first company to settle in Wuhu Aviation Industrial Park, Diamond Aircraft Company has actively laid out the entire general aviation industry chain system since its establishment, and has formed the independent design and manufacturing capabilities of general aircraft through introduction, digestion and reabsorption.

“It takes about 40 working days for our general assembly workshop to complete the assembly of an aircraft. The assembly of an aircraft basically needs to be done manually, and the machine can only do a small amount of auxiliary work. After the aircraft is assembled, it must first undergo engine testing and ground testing, and then flight testing. After all the tests are qualified, the aircraft can be delivered.” Diamond Aircraft staff told reporters.

Currently, Diamond Aircraft has the ability to develop and manufacture general aircraft and UAVs, high-performance composite materials, mission system integration, modification and scientific research flight testing, and professional maintenance and training, forming a business system covering the entire general aviation industry chain from product development and manufacturing to system integration, scientific research flight testing, etc. Diamond Aircraft has delivered more than 100 aircraft in total.

“Look at Shanghai for big aircraft and Wuhu for small aircraft.” The rapid development of Wuhu’s aviation industry benefits from its good policy opportunities and regional advantages. In 2013, Wuhu’s aviation industry “landed” in Wanzhi District, Wuhu City. After years of development, the Aviation Industrial Park has formed an industrial chain covering multiple projects such as new aviation materials, general aviation aircraft, satellites, drones, engines, propellers, general avionics, aviation accessories, airport economy, and low-altitude operations, truly realizing the goal of “a domestic general aircraft can be manufactured without leaving the park.”