Editor's Note

China’s first domestically-developed heavy transport aircraft, the Y-20, has successfully taken off for its first test flight on January 26.

As a large and multi-role transport aircraft, the Y-20 can carry out long-range transportation missions even under complicated weather conditions. The Y-20 was developed by Xi’an Aircraft Industry, a subsidiary of China’s leading military aircraft maker, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

The successful test flight is a significant boost to China’s capabilities in national defense, rescue and relief work, and humanitarian aid. Reports say more tests are planned.

Latest News

China's first heavy transporter takes off Source: CNTV.cn	Xinhua, Jan. 27, 2013: Successful flight for China's first jumbo airfreighter China on January 26 conducted a successful test flight of its first domestically made jumbo airfreighter.
	Xinhua, Jan. 27, 2013: China's heavy transporter Y-20 takes first flight As a large and multi-role transport aircraft, the Y-20 can carry out long-range transportation missions even under complicated weather conditions.
	People’s Daily online, Jan. 27, 2013: China's first heavy transporter Y-20 takes off China began test flights on January 26 for the prototype of its first indigenously-developed heavy transport aircraft, Y-20, a craft similar in size to the Russian IL-76 and somewhat smaller than the US C-17.

Photos

Aircraft: Y-20, China’s first indigenously-developed heavy transport aircraft, which is similar in size to the Russian Il-76 and somewhat smaller than the US C-17

Engine: China is actively developing high-thrust turbofan engines. Currently, the Y-20 can not be equipped with such advanced engines but be fit out with the imported D-30KP2 engine temporarily.

Test flight time: around 2:00 pm, January 26, 2013, from an airport in Yanliang, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province

Aircraft developer: Y-20 is developed by Xi'an Aircraft Industry, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country's leading military aircraft maker.

Source: People's Daily online

Parameters

Specs of large and medium-sized air transporters around the world

	Y-20 (left)/China: Maximum take-off weight: a little over 200 tons Maximum payload: 66 tons Fuselage length: 47 meters Wingspan: 45 meters Height: 15 meters
C-17 (right)/US: Maximum take-off weight: 265 tons Maximum payload: 78 tons Range:11,600 kilometers Maximum speed: 830 kilometers per hour Fuselage length: 53.1 meters Wingspan: 51.8 meters Height: 16.8 meters
	Il-76 (left)/Russia: Maximum take-off weight: 170 tons Maximum payload: 50 tons Range: 7,800 kilometers Maximum speed: 860 kilometers per hour Fuselage length: 46.6 meters Wingspan: 50.5 meters Height: 14.7 meters
A400M (right)/EU Maximum take-off weight: 141 tons Maximum payload: 38 tons Range: 9,300 kilometers Maximum speed: 740 kilometers per hour Fuselage length: 43.8 meters Wingspan: 42.4 meters Height: 14.6 meters
	XC-2 (left)/Japan Maximum take-off weight: 140 tons Maximum payload: 37 tons Range: 10,950 kilometers Maximum speed: 890 kilometers per hour Fuselage length: 43.9 meters Wingspan: 44.4 meters Height: 14.2 meters
C-5 (right)/US Maximum take-off weight: 380 tons Maximum payload: 118 tons Range: 10,411 kilometers Maximum speed: 917 kilometers per hour Fuselage length: 75.3 meters Wingspan: 67.9 meters Height: 19.8 meters
	An-124 (left)/Ukraine Maximum take-off weight: 405 tons Maximum payload: 229 tons Range: 16,500 kilometers Maximum speed: 865 kilometers per hour Fuselage length: 68.9 meters Wingspan: 73.3 meters Height: 20.8 meters

Source: huanqiu.com

Comments

Chinese media digest: Jumbo freighter Y-20 increases China's reach in South China Sea

"The Y-20 strengthens China's long-distance transportation which has long been a weakness for China's air force, and China is stepping closer to becoming a strategic air force," military expert Chen Hu said in an opinion piece published in the Hubei Daily.

Wu Guohui, professor with National Defense University PLA China told the Beijing Times that there is still a long way to go between a maiden flight and deploying the aircraft.

China Military Online: SAF expert: Y-20 outperforms Il-76

The Y-20 is in the phase of test and finalization. If everything goes well, the Y-20 will have to undergo a minimum-three-year-long flight test and a minimum-five-year-long comprehensive test. Therefore, 2017 is the earliest date by which the PLA Air Force will have home-made large transport aircraft.

South China Morning Post: Y-20 heavy transport aircraft to boost military capabilities

The development of the Y-20 heavy transport aircraft will benefit the military and civilian aviation industries if engine problems can be overcome, military experts said.

AFP: China tests new military transport plane

China has carried out a test flight of its biggest-ever army transport aeroplane, state media said, as the country strengthens its military capabilities.

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