That's a big skid pad for tail strike ?
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
I think it is part of the ramp that touches the ground.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Interesting tid bit from the airshow Y20 will be equipped with 2 different engine I assume WS 18 and WS 20 But why? It is logistic nightmare
Wang said.
Y-20 large transport aircraft attached to an aviation division under the PLA Western Theater Command flies at a predetermined altitude during a flight training mission on January 4, 2021. (eng.chianmil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Shu)
Tang Changhong, chief designer of the Y-20 aircraft, revealed at the press conference that the plane will be equipped with two types of domestically developed engines, both of which are undergoing flight tests that have been progressing smoothly.
After being equipped with these engines, the Y-20's capabilities have received a boost respect to fuel-efficiency, range and maximum takeoff weight, Tang said.
Wang said.
Y-20 large transport aircraft attached to an aviation division under the PLA Western Theater Command flies at a predetermined altitude during a flight training mission on January 4, 2021. (eng.chianmil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Shu)
Tang Changhong, chief designer of the Y-20 aircraft, revealed at the press conference that the plane will be equipped with two types of domestically developed engines, both of which are undergoing flight tests that have been progressing smoothly.
After being equipped with these engines, the Y-20's capabilities have received a boost respect to fuel-efficiency, range and maximum takeoff weight, Tang said.
Probably a production speed issue. They may want more Y-20 airframes than one new engine line can supply, and production for a D-30 derivative is much faster and more mature than for the WS-20.
1. The integration of two different engines into the Y20 helps train China's talented team of engineers and workers, who can maintain, repair, improve and upgrade both different lines of technology.
2. The efficiency of the WS-18 is lower than the WS-20, but it is a suitable engine to integrate into the Xian H-20. In this case, the Y-20 has two roles, as a strategic transport vehicle and a test bed, Chinese engineers can check the performance and problems when using the WS-18. It helps China save a lot of time and money, avoid risks, if they really intend to integrate WS-18 into Xian H-20 in the future.
2. The efficiency of the WS-18 is lower than the WS-20, but it is a suitable engine to integrate into the Xian H-20. In this case, the Y-20 has two roles, as a strategic transport vehicle and a test bed, Chinese engineers can check the performance and problems when using the WS-18. It helps China save a lot of time and money, avoid risks, if they really intend to integrate WS-18 into Xian H-20 in the future.
I have read on some other thread, that NO new Y-20A will be equiped with WS-18, but only with WS-20. WS-18 will be installed on current Y-20, replacing current Russian engines, when they come to an end of their resurces, or maybe earlier... The same reengining will be applied to H-6.
I think that case scenario is more reasonable than making expensive raplacement of Russian engines installed on early Y-20 with WS-20.
I think that case scenario is more reasonable than making expensive raplacement of Russian engines installed on early Y-20 with WS-20.
The only explanation that i can see is that the WS-18 will be available much sooner than WS-20, and china needs domestic engines for its newly built planes. Only when WS-20 is available, will they switch out of WS-18. The article below talks about both engines.
I think that "Y-20 equipping two types of domestic engines simultaneously" is a miss-interpretation. Here is the video.
Tang Changhong said: "We already had Chinese engines installed. Not only we have, but two types. Both are being tested. Both tests progress smoothly".
Two points:
Tang Changhong said: "We already had Chinese engines installed. Not only we have, but two types. Both are being tested. Both tests progress smoothly".
Two points:
- Two types being tested. BUT NOT necessarily equipping both on newly constructed planes.
- There is NO indication that WS-18 is any faster than WS-20 for the purpose of Y-20.
I would actually say the Y-20 is more important as an airborne tanker than as a strategic transport.
China has very few tankers, but now has a fleet of 2000 fighter jets which are mostly modern enough, plus 200 medium bombers.
And there is a requirement to extend air operations as far as possible beyond China's borders.
If they were available tomorrow, I reckon China could usefully use a minimum of 200 Y-20U tanker aircraft