Brief Introduction of Mr. Shen Benzhong, the Chairman of Changzhou Zhonglian Aviation Technology

Shen Benzhong: A Trailblazer and Strategist in China’s General Aviation Sector

In Changzhou, located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, a entrepreneur who rose from a mold workshop to the skies has reshaped China’s civil helicopter industry over two decades. He is Shen Benzhong, Chairman of Changzhou Zhonglian Aviation Technology Co., Ltd.—a figure who has etched "Made in China" into the airflow of rotor blades. From a young laborer who didn’t finish primary school to an entrepreneur mastering core technologies in aero-engines, his story is not just an epic of personal struggle but also a microcosm of China’s general aviation industry emerging from scratch.

I. A Tech Enthusiast: From a Radio-Mad Teen to an Aviation Engineer

Born in 1970 in Binhai, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, Shen Benzhong showed an extraordinary talent for machinery in his childhood. At 11, he could independently repair semiconductor radios and even make antennas to receive broadcast signals. Though he dropped out of primary school due to family poverty, he taught himself junior and senior high school physics textbooks, systematically mastering fundamentals like electromagnetism and dynamics. At 16, when he followed his elder brother to work in Changzhou, he spent his days honing machining skills in a mold factory and his nights immersed in professional books such as Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica and Helicopter Design Manual, gradually forming a unique understanding of "building aircraft with a mold-making mindset."

In 2003, Shen Benzhong used the first pot of gold accumulated from the mold factory to start his aviation dream. The seven-person team he assembled produced molds during the day to make ends meet and disassembled scrapped helicopters in a warehouse at night to study their structure. To tackle the core challenge of the rotor system, he led the team to repeatedly test composite material molding techniques—research and development of the main rotor alone took 15 years and over 100 failures. This "Yugong moving mountains" spirit eventually allowed a Chinese private enterprise to master independent rotor manufacturing technology for the first time.

II. Strategic Layout: Building a Dual-Track Industrial Ecosystem

In 2015, Shen Benzhong made a crucial decision—to establish two enterprises simultaneously: one specializing in engine manufacturing and the other in helicopter production and assembly. This "engine + complete machine" dual-track model is unique in China’s general aviation sector:

· Mastery of Core Technologies: The independently developed Flyben four-cylinder turbocharged engine, featuring dual electronic ignition and full-air cooling design, delivers a maximum power of 170 horsepower and reduces fuel consumption by 18% compared to products of the same class. This vertical integration has enabled the enterprise to completely break free from reliance on imported engines.

· Flexible Market Response: Customers can freely choose between Subaru automotive engines or Flyben aero-engines—the former suits the cost-sensitive training market, while the latter meets the needs of high-end private flying. This differentiated strategy helped Changzhou Zhonglian’s order volume grow by over 50% for three consecutive years after 2018.

More forward-looking, Shen Benzhong laid out plans for the airworthiness certification system as early as 2017. When the F27 helicopter obtained China’s first experimental airworthiness certificate in 2018, his team had already launched applications for light sport airworthiness certification. This rhythm of "producing one generation, researching one generation, and certifying one generation" has kept the enterprise ahead of the policy dividend curve.

III. Breaking Industry Barriers: Rewriting Rules in China’s General Aviation

Shen Benzhong’s innovative practices have broken industry inertia on multiple fronts:

1. A Milestone in Airworthiness Certification: The XAC00001 airworthiness certificate issued on December 13, 2018, was not only the first such qualification for a Chinese private enterprise but also prompted the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to issue the Guidelines for Airworthiness Certification of Experimental Aircraft, paving the way for subsequent entrepreneurs.

2. A Revolution in Cost Control: By transferring mold manufacturing experience, the company has reduced helicopter production costs by 60% compared to imported counterparts. For example, the F27 equipped with a Flyben engine is priced at only 1.8 million yuan, while imported models of the same class generally exceed 5 million yuan.

3. Expanding Application Scenarios: In response to the development needs of China’s low-altitude economy, Shen Benzhong led the development of various mission modules such as power line inspection, agricultural and forestry spraying, and emergency rescue. Its customers include power grid companies, scenic spots, and flight training schools, with order volume exceeding 300 units in 2024.

Under his leadership, Changzhou Zhonglian Aviation has become a core enterprise in the Yangtze River Delta’s general aviation industrial chain. Its independently developed engines not only power its own helicopters but also serve as the preferred power source for multiple drone manufacturers, with engine business revenue accounting for 45% of the total in 2024.

IV. An Industry Visionary: From Building Aircraft to Building an Ecosystem

Facing the explosive growth of China’s general aviation market in 2024, Shen Benzhong has demonstrated an industrial sense of mission beyond that of an entrepreneur:

· Technology Output: He has opened up some patents for rotor systems and engines to the industry, driving the development of regional supporting enterprises. Currently, its Changzhou base has formed a complete industrial chain covering composite materials, precision machining, and avionics.

· Talent Cultivation: In cooperation with Changzhou Institute of Technology, it has launched an "Aviation Manufacturing Class," training over 200 technical workers. He adheres to an "engineer culture," with frontline technical workers accounting for 60% of the R&D team.

· Policy Advocacy: As Vice President of the Jiangsu General Aviation Association, he has actively promoted low-altitude airspace opening pilots and proposed building Changzhou into a general aviation hub in the Yangtze River Delta. In 2025, the general airport he helped design is set to break ground in Wujin High-Tech Zone.

V. Leadership Traits: A Entrepreneur Blending Rationality and Romance

Hanging in Shen Benzhong’s office is a calligraphy work: "Calm in the face of abyss, humble at the summit." This trait runs through his entrepreneurial journey:

· Technical Rationality: In developing the Flyben engine, he required the team to strictly follow aviation-grade quality standards. The fuel injection system alone underwent 1,200 hours of bench testing, far exceeding the industry average of 800 hours.

· Business Insight: After obtaining the airworthiness certificate in 2018, he did not rush to expand production capacity but first established a nationwide maintenance network. This "service-first" strategy has kept customer satisfaction at over 98%.

· Humanistic Feelings: He insists on investing 10% of profits into a technology R&D fund to encourage employees to put forward innovative proposals. He often says, "The true aviation spirit is to give every part a soul."

   Soaring in the New Blue Ocean of Low-Altitude Economy

As of 2025, Shen Benzhong is leading the team to strive for light sport airworthiness certification. His goal is not only to make the Flyben22 helicopter a benchmark in China’s general aviation market but also to build an industrial empire centered on independent technology and covering "R&D-manufacturing-operation" in the wave of low-altitude economy. As he said at the 2024 General Aviation Summit: "China’s skies should not only resound with the roar of imported aircraft but also with the sound of rotor blades made in China cutting through the clouds." This entrepreneur who took off from a mold workshop is writing a new chapter in China’s aviation industry with two decades of persistence.