A new tiltrotor-style aircraft appears to be undergoing testing in China.
Photos circulating on social media show a white, crewed tiltrotor flying in what appears to be a city in China. It was not clear who manufactured the rotorcraft, or who is now operating it.
The photos were first reported on by defense industry news website The War Zone.
Tiltrotors are powered by rotors that can be oriented horizontally, vertically, or in between. Most tiltrotors position their rotors vertically for vertical takeoffs and horizontally for forward flight.
Examples include the twin-engine Leonardo AW609 and the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey used by the U.S. military.
Before this week, it was not believed that China had a crewed tiltrotor.
According to The War Zone, the company behind the aircraft could be Hafei Aviation, a manufacturer of light airplanes and helicopters and a subsidiary of the larger Harbin Aircraft Industry Group.
The state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China has also displayed small models of similar-looking tiltrotors at public events.
The War Zone pointed out that, once formally unveiled, the mystery tiltrotor will likely find applications in both commercial and military settings. The Chinese military does not currently field a tiltrotor.
