The Y-20 airlifter appeared on social media in PLAAF markings.
Posted on 06/20/2016 10:43:19 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
China has taken delivery of the first two Xian Y-20 strategic airlifters, according to photos published on social media. They show the aircraft in full People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) markings at an undisclosed airbase.
However, the serial numbers on the aircraft (11051 and 11052) indicate that they are assigned to the PLAAF’s 4th Transport Division, 12th Air Regiment based at Qionglai in Sichuan Province. The division comprises of three regiments based in the PLA’s Western Theatre Command, operating the Shaanxi Y-7, Y-8 and Y-9 transports.
The Y-20 is a high-wing, T-tail four-engine design capable of strategic airlift. It was first flown in 2013 and made its public debut at the Zhuhai airshow the following year. Designed for short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations, the type is fitted with a modern glass cockpit and features significant use of composites to reduce weight and 3-D printed parts to reduce manufacturing costs.
Its maximum payload is reported to be 66 tons, although this is possible only when higher-performance, high-bypass WS-20 turbofan engines currently being developed by the Shenyna-Liming company in China become available. Reportedly based on the WS-10 currently powering China’s J-11B Flanker combat jets, the WS-20 was first flown on an Il-76 engine test-bed at the China Flight Test Establishment at Xian-Yanliang in 2014. Until it is available, the Y-20 will be powered by the Russian Soloviev D-30KP turbofan used on the Il-76.
The Y-20’s entry into service will fill a significant gap in the PLAAF’s airlift capability. It is also that the Y-20 could also be developed into an aerial refueling tanker in the future, with China’s Xian H-6 (Tupolev Tu-16) tanker being limited by fuel capacity and obsolescence issues. The PLAAF currently operates slightly more than a dozen Ilyushin Il-76 airlifters and three Il-78 Midas tankers, but its attempts to acquire more have been hamstrung by troubles finding suitable airframes for refurbishment.
The Y-20 airlifter appeared on social media in PLAAF markings.
Grobemaster?
Looks like a weird version of an IL-76
Or a C-141 married to a C-17
Those are not high by-pass turbo fans. Looks like they belong on a 707.
Low-bypass engines. Very old technology. Two generations behind. This limits range of the aircraft. Of course, that doesn’t matter with in-flight refueling, which this airplane may be able to do.
That doesn’t mean they don’t have something more modern waiting in the wings, so to speak. Engine-wise, I mean.
But what they’re showing is not very impressive.
Still, remember the famous adage about military thinking: “amateurs think strategy, professionals think logistics.”
C-17 copy.
Ok, I laughed.
Franken-Starlifter.
That’s what I thought.
Yeah, that’s what I thought, too. Different nose but the basic structure is still there.
I hear its manufactured by Gerry Anderson.
More like an IL-76 copy.
I have come to the point that I am no longer surprised when some foreign aircraft is presented and it looks awfully like one of our aircraft. The ‘spy’ game is still in full force. ;-)
How’s that Iranian stealth plane coming along? Last I saw it was a mockup at an air show.
No doubt, but we may also be at a point of same mission + physics = similar design.
Who needs spies when the Clintons and Obamas will trade any kind of secret for campaign and foundation donations.
More like a C-141A Starlifter.The plane looks too be on the small side.Even the B model 141 with the expanded cargo bay looks longer than that ChiCom bird.
It’s missing those windows under the nose.
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