The purpose of the tests conducted on the LAR 1 has been to develop the optimal take-off and landing configuration and to check the efficacy of the control system and stability.

"It was a difficult test for the plane and the whole Flaris team", said Rafal Ladzinski, Head of the Flaris Program. "The difficulty is that Flaris LAR 1 does not have a model. It is an airplane with an innovative airframe configuration."

The LAR 1 can takeoff and land on short grass airstrips. Preliminary specifications call for a range of more than 3,000 kilometers.

"The price of Flaris LAR 1 and its operation costs will be a quarter of current market prices for planes in the light jet (LJ) category," said Ladzinski.

Source:  Flaris

The opening of the line follows a cooperation agreement signed between Airbus Helicopters and China in 2016 for the purchase of 100 H135s destined for the Chinese market. Ninety-five of the helicopters are to be assembled on the line from 2019 onwards. Major components for the helicopters, including the main fuselage, main gearbox kits, and rear fuselage are to be shipped to Qingdao from Donauworth, Germany, and Albacete, Spain.

The 6,500-square-meter Qingdao plant is composed of four working stations, a paint booth, ground and flight test areas, and a delivery center. The site will employ approximately 40 people, 23 of whom received on-the-job training in Donauworth.

The first aircraft roll-out from the Qingdao line is slated to occur in the second half of 2019. Initially, the line will have an annual capacity of 18 helicopters, which could be doubled to accommodate future growth.

"Beginning to manufacture H135s in Qingdao marks the start of a new chapter of Sino-European collaboration, as we become the first foreign helicopter manufacturer to open a manufacturing facility in China," said Marie-Agnes Veve, General Manager of Airbus Helicopters China. "This achievement is a testament to our continued commitment to the Chinese helicopter industry and the strong spirit of cooperation that exists between us and our Chinese partners."

To date, some 1,300 helicopters from the H135 family are in operation around the globe, having achieved more than five million flight hours.

Source:  Airbus Helicopters

Source:  ATR