China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft - esp. Y-20/YY-20
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
the only hint i remember, Y-20 chief designer said at Airshow 2021.
we are testing two different engine on Y-20.. obvious he was talking about WS-20 and WS-18.
Indeed, but that clearly referred to testing only ... as for an operational use we have no proof however!
that's true.. probably we will never know even if some WS-18 get operational status.
lcloo
Major
Using KC-135 as example,
KC-135A original engine - P&W J57-P-59W
KC-135E (upgrade of existing KC-135A) - P&W TF33-PW-102 engines
KC-135R (upgrade of existing KC-135A and KC-135E) - CFM56 (military designation F108) engines.
The original KC-135As have changed 2 times to more efficient engines when the old engines became obsolete. The aircraft designation changed as new engines were fitted.
Logically Y20A should go through the same path when their WS-18 engines expired after many years of usage, especially now that WS-20 engine is already available.
It depends on if the wings were structurally designed to accommodate the potential increased weight and drag forces from the larger engine (nacelle and pylon). The wings could look nearly identical on the outside but with extra structure to take the WS-20s.
With the size, robustness of the Y-20 and the likely WS-20 development plan the Y-20 should be able to accommodate the upgrade. There might also be structural reinforcement in the airframe and wing box to allow for the greater payload allowed for by the WS-20s that could play a for m factor in deciding on upgrading too.
A lot of questions that would be tough to answer without direct design knowledge.
lcloo
Major
WS-20 was the original intended engines, so right from the start of the Y20 program, the wing design would have already taken into account the designed weight and other specs of WS-20 engine.
WS-18 was a stop gap interim engine, as such the wing design should never be done just to handle this engine in mind.
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And once again a gap has been closed ... YY-20A with the serial number 20646, which has not yet been confirmed by photo was finally seen. At the same time, the question arises again as to whether all YY-20A from numbers 20541 to 21040 are genuine and thus there are 50 tanker?
Or whether a renumbering has actually taken place ... and the tail unit here suggests the latter.
(Image via @齐天的孙猴子 from Weibo)
Or whether a renumbering has actually taken place ... and the tail unit here suggests the latter.
(Image via @齐天的孙猴子 from Weibo)
Why do you think it was Afghanistan? At the end of the clip, you should see the rescue truck painted with Chinese characters.