This Day, That Year

Item from May 11, 1996, in China Daily: Tom Tennihill of the US company SABA Group explains the features of the VA-52 helicopter to visitors. The aircraft gave a demonstration flight yesterday in Beijing.

The prototype helicopter staged a graceful performance yesterday for hundreds of would-be buyers, its debut in what the Sino-US backers believe is potentially the world's largest civil aircraft market. The "Hummingbird VA-52" four-seat helicopter, priced at $250,000, was unveiled in Beijing ...

China boasts less than 100 civil helicopters, but that is expected to grow to anywhere between 400-600 by the year 2000, fueled by the fast-growing demand for both general aviation and individual use, according to aviation industry plans.