China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

T

Tyloe

Junior Member
Yesterday 4 ll-76 aircraft of the PLAAF was sent to Nepal to provide assistance and humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the deadly Saturday earthquake.

BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
(PLA) Air Force has sent IL-76 planes to Nepal to help with rescue operations following Saturday's 8.1-magnitude earthquake, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Two IL-76 planes were dispatched to an airport in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and one IL-76 plane was placed at an airport in Kunming, capital of nearby Yunnan Province, to transport PLA rescuers and logistics to Nepal.

"Soldiers for this mission are experienced in conducting overseas military operations," Colonel Shen Jinke said.

The Air Force has thoroughly planned its choice of airports and air routes as well as mission details, Shen said.

The Ilyushin IL-76 transport aircraft is a multi-purpose four-engine aircraft widely used in Europe, Asia and Africa. It is commonly used in transport, for airborne refueling or as a command center.

A team of 55 PLA soldiers left for Nepal on Monday aboard the plane from Kunming. Another team of 45 soldiers are scheduled to leave for Nepal on Tuesday.

The soldiers are taking with them four sniffer dogs, five recovery vehicles and rescue equipment, including life detection equipment and entry tools.

They are experienced in earthquake rescue missions and participated in past operations for the deadly earthquakes in Wenchuan and Lushan, both in Sichuan, and Ludian in Yunnan.

The team will conduct rescue operations, provide medical aid and offer psychological counseling after arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital.

The earthquake struck Nepal at 2:11 p.m. Beijing time on Saturday, followed by a second 7-magnitude quake at 2:45 p.m. The quake has killed at least 3,218 people, including four Chinese.
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


aa2298f089424428a2c0b95e8af6ef4c.jpg

6d947e416ec54c9ea3547e29cce32dda.jpg
eb9d7540d03d4bc7ad17c349589629a6.jpg

468891e60787409a8bb278bc628c7cf2.jpg
 
lcloo

lcloo

Captain
Remember this photo? It was taken long long time ago. This is how it would look like when the domestic engines are fitted.Y-X3.jpg
 
P

PanAsian

Major
Sounds like this is the reason why China is not churning out Y-9's, and it makes sense as the backup plan for the transport version of the perpetually delayed C919.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


A CHINESE COMPANY BETS ON AN UKRAINIAN CARGO PLANE
THE ANTONOV 178 FLIES OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME

By
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Posted Yesterday at 2:15pm

The An-178, a larger cargo version of the An-148 jetliner, is Ukraine's newest aircraft, and with luck and determination, first Chinese privately made cargo plane.
On May 7, 2015, Ukraine rolled out a new tactical cargo plane, the An-178, for an one hour test flight. What makes it notable to Eastern Arsenal is that while designed and built by the Antonov Corporation, the An-178 may be be license produced in China. Even more notable, Antonov's Chinese partner, the Beijing A-Star Airspace and Technology Corporation, a Chinese company with no link to state owned aviation giants AVIC or COMAC. Beijing A-Star is currently in talks with Antonov to license produce the An-178 in China, and may directly buy two An-178s from Ukraine.
AN-178 Antonov Ukraine
Maiden Flight
prosto vova at livejournal.com
The An-178's first flight in May 2015 was for one hour. Despite an ongoing war and financial difficulty, Antonov, Ukraine's aircraft design bureau, is staking its fortunes on selling the An-178 aboard, including to China.
The twin jet engine An-178 can cruise 13,000 meters above the ground at a speed of about 800km per hour. It can carry 18 ton payload, which is about the size of an armored personel carrier, or 99 troops in its pressurized cargo hold and has a range of 4,000 km for a 10 ton payload. The An-178 is much smaller than China's heavy Y-20 cargo plane, but its lower cost and smaller logistical footprint gives it flexibility for flying tactical and relief missions to underdeveloped regions, like Nepal. It's also about 33% faster than the turboprop Y-9, which is China's contemporary tactical cargo plane.
AN-178 Antonov Ukraine China
Promise of Things to Come
prosto vova at livejournal.com
At the May 7th maiden flight of the An-178 cargo plane, Chinese and Antonov's officials sign memorandums of understanding. Beijing A-Star Airspace and Technology Company has big plans to buy 2 An-178s and license produce the cargo planes in China.
Chinese interest in the An-178 is noteworthy for two reasons. If successful, Antonov's partnership with Beijing A-Star in building and selling Chinese military An-178s would break the monopoly of state owned defense contractors like AVIC and NORINCO on PLA procurement. While a newcomer like Beijing A-Star would have to master the challenges of building a 60 ton cargo plane, Antonov's willingness to take that risk speaks to its commitment (and financial need) to sell the An-178 to foreign buyers like China. Antonov has also provided consulting and engineering support to Chinese cargo planes like the Y-20 and Y-9 in the past.
AN-178 Antonov Ukraine Cargo
An-178 Loadouts
lf5422 at wordpress.com
The An-178's 18 ton payload includes vehicles, pallet cargo, containers and airdropped packages.
The other reason is that, in addition to a faster tactical cargo capability, the An-178 would provide a more fuel efficient, longer ranged and faster aerial platform for Chinese prop powered special aircraft that currently conduct electronic warfare, aerial command, airborne warning and control, and psychological warfare. However, the An-178 would likely face stiff competition from the larger, domestic COMAC C919 jetliner to provide faster airframes for Chinese noncombat missions.
Click to expand...
 
broadsword

broadsword

Brigadier
PanAsian said:
... and it makes sense as the backup plan for the transport version of the perpetually delayed C919.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Click to expand...

A year of delay is still within the norm. The Dreamliner and A380 had longer delays.

As for Beijing A-Star Airspace and Technology Corporation's venture to take on making An-178, I wonder if they have done due diligence on such a risky undertaking, notwithstanding Antonov's assistance. Because when the C919 goes into production, the choice for domestic airlines is clear.

I could not dig out info on this company from Google.
 
P

Preux

Junior Member
The An-178 is a cargo version anyway, and is in the ARJ-21 class, not C-919, and may be intended to compete with the notional Y-8 successor with a pair of turbofans which model we have seen bit seem to have since been replaced by the Y-30 concept. Perhaps some of you remember the model? It was on Huitong's a while ago.
 
Ultra

Ultra

Junior Member
PanAsian said:
Sounds like this is the reason why China is not churning out Y-9's, and it makes sense as the backup plan for the transport version of the perpetually delayed C919.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Click to expand...


Really? 15-18 ton payload ?? That seems quite low and I am not sure it will fill China's need for the short-medium range cargo plane. China already has the Y-8 and Y-9 both of which have much larger payload than this An-178 and have been produced and operating reliably in China for quite some time. Perhaps the jet engines allows for faster cruising speed is filling a particular time-critical role as China right now doesn't have a jet-engined medium transport.
 
Ultra

Ultra

Junior Member
t2contra said:
A year of delay is still within the norm. The Dreamliner and A380 had longer delays.

As for Beijing A-Star Airspace and Technology Corporation's venture to take on making An-178, I wonder if they have done due diligence on such a risky undertaking, notwithstanding Antonov's assistance. Because when the C919 goes into production, the choice for domestic airlines is clear.

I could not dig out info on this company from Google.
Click to expand...



I think you are confusing the role this An-178 does - it is a military aircraft and thus built as such. C919 and ARJ-21 are civilian aircrafts, the military will not use these for transport. There is no competition for this An-178 against the C919 and ARJ-21. The reason being, it doesn't not have a cargo ramp to load oversized cargo, nor is it designed to be as robust as the military transport.


204593_800.jpg

20150420180214!An-178_1.JPG




The only competition it has will come from the older Y-8 and Y-9 from cost to value basis. Right now it fills a niche in the market.
 
Last edited:
Blitzo

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Preux said:
The An-178 is a cargo version anyway, and is in the ARJ-21 class, not C-919, and may be intended to compete with the notional Y-8 successor with a pair of turbofans which model we have seen bit seem to have since been replaced by the Y-30 concept. Perhaps some of you remember the model? It was on Huitong's a while ago.
Click to expand...

However an-178's payload is meaningfully smaller than Y-9, let alone the Y-30 which is intended to have a 30 ton payload.

I think An-178 could have a role as a Y-7 replacement, however.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top