China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft - esp. Y-20/YY-20

by78 said:

A YY-20 tanker fitted with WS-20 turbofans.

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What makes you think this is a YY-20 with WS-20s rather than just a Y-20B MRTT in a tanker setup (i.e.: with refuelling pods installed)?

I can't see any definitive indicators of this being a YY-20 style airframe -- there is no clear indicator of a central fuselage refuelling station, and the landing gear bulges are not definitively in the angled fashion of YY-20 as opposed to standard Y-20Bs imo, due to resolution of the image.

Blitzo said:

What makes you think this is a YY-20 with WS-20s rather than just a Y-20B MRTT in a tanker setup (i.e.: with refuelling pods installed)?

I can't see any definitive indicators of this being a YY-20 style airframe -- there is no clear indicator of a central fuselage refuelling station, and the landing gear bulges are not definitively in the angled fashion of YY-20 as opposed to standard Y-20Bs imo, due to resolution of the image.

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I stared at the landing gear bulges for a while. Granted, the image is very grainy, but that sharp termination from that angle is more characteristic of the YY-20 than the regular Y-20A/B airframe.

by78 said:

I stared at the landing gear bulges for a while. Granted, the image is very grainy, but that sharp termination from that angle is characteristic of the YY-20.

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I think the poor resolution of the image means that it is difficult to decisively call it one way or another, for example this angle below of a standard Y-20A, if it were more blurry, would produce a similar visual effect.





Unless the source it is from explicitly stated that it is from a YY-20 airframe (which would make it perhaps something akin to "YY-20B") rather than just a Y-20B with refuelling pods on the wings (which isn't new for us and we've had clear images of) but blurred to make it seem more "mysterious," imo unless there is definitive indication it's a YY-20 airframe such as having a definitive central fuselage refuelling drogue position (which would be visible even at this resolution), then we shouldn't be too hasty in calling it a YY-20 airframe.

by78 said:

A YY-20 tanker fitted with WS-20 turbofans.

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Interesting, Looks like prototype 7813 which had the IFR-pods Installed.

Three Y-20Bs.

Nice screen grabs of a Y-20 formation.

Y-8F200WAs for Kazakhstan.

This is amusing to say the least. Maybe Russia will also buy this aircraft?

by78 said:

Y-8F200WAs for Kazakhstan.

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View attachment 156655

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Supposedly cost $38M each.

These aircraft are much cheaper than Y9 transport plane. Also Kazakhstan airforce has two AN-12, thus it is much easier to convert their AN-12 pilots to Y8F qualification, probably also easier on the ground crew as well.