China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
Is it just me who notice that China is sending the Y-20 to Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka ? These 3 are more likely than other countries as potential customers of the Y-20.
It's probably more so about training and putting the Y20 for actual use so as to improve China's strategic lifting capabilities than trying to sell to these countries. I don't see that much need nor money for these planes.
It is likely that 20042 flew from Thailand to Sri Lanka over the Indian Ocean.
In 2016, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the country had the intention to buy Y20 (). This trip could be a demonstration as well.
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foxmulder_ms
Junior Member
Low numbers might be bought by these countries but I agree it is probably not a sales pitch.
Y-8 is probably a better fit.
foxmulder_ms
Junior Member
Tens of countries (poor and rich, big and small) bought Il-76. Y-20 can be a very good replacement for these especially with the new engine. I think it is a when and not an if Y-20 will be flown by other nations.
Given the current Covid-19 impacted economy of most countries, it will be a 2~3 years tire kicking and contract negotiation process before closing a deal, even if a country has genuine need and interest. Adding another year or two for engineering/production, it will be 2025 time frame at the earliest for delivery of the first Y-20 export. The new engine would have been well proven by then and China will probably have met a major portion of her internal need.
But you have to start the sales pitch sooner or later. And these occasions seem like a good opportunity to showcase the Y-20.
