Many on this forum love to post about the the attack and fighter aircraft. But the PLAAF has a new transport in the works of indignous design.
It was on sinodefence front page!..Surprised no one started a thread about it. It's call the Y-9. It is very similar to a US C-130. Hey? Why not? The C-130 is very sucessful multipule use aircraft. Check this out!
Can someone please post more info on the aircraft. I'm sure some Chinese sites have more info than I can dig up!
Y-9 MULTI-PURPOSE TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT
At the September 2005 International Aviation Expo held in Beijing, Shaanxi Aircraft Industry (Group) Co. Ltd unveiled its Y-9 multi-purpose transport aircraft design. A substantial redesign of the Shaanxi Y-8 (Chinese copy of the An-12 Cud), the aircraft was initially revealed to the public at the 2002 Zhuhai Air Show under the name of Y-8-X concept transport. It is said to be comparable to the U.S. Lockheed Martin C-130J transport in general performance.
PROGRAMME
The development of the Y-8X began in 2001 to meet the requirements of the PLA Air Force for a capable and advanced medium-size tactical transport aircraft to replace the ageing Y-8. The project aims to develop a multi-purpose turboprop transport aircraft that approaches or in some aspects exceeds the performance of the U.S. C-130J. The development is believed to have been assisted by The Ukraine-based Antonov Aeronautical Scientific-technical Complex (ASTC) aircraft company.
During the 2005 Beijing International Aviation Expo, Shaanxi revealed more details about the Y-8X, now re-designated Y-9. Compared to the Y-8, the new aircraft features a more specious cargo cabin, fast loading/uploading system, improved WJ-6C turboprop engines, six-blade propellers, and a “glass cockpitâ€. The aircraft can be used for both military and civil flights.
DESIGN
The Y-9 ’s wings are high-mounted with four turboprop engines mounted under the wings’ leading edges. The aircraft utilises six-blade JL-4 propellers made of composite materials. The rear cargo door, which also serves as a ramp, allows cargo to be quickly loaded/unloaded. The tail flats and fin are mounted high. The aircraft has a two-wheel nose landing gear and two four-wheel main landing gears.
CARGO SYSTEM
The payload requirement of the Y-9 includes a range of military vehicles, helicopters, cargo containers, pallets, and paratroopers.
The 16.2m X 3.2m X 2.35m (length X width X height) cargo bay can transport up to 20t cargo. The Y-9 can air-drop paratroops and equipment either by parachute or gravity extraction. It can perform wither single or multiple airdrops of paratroopers and cargo. It can air-drop: single load up to 8.2t; or multiple loads up to 13.2t total; or 98 armed paratroopers; or 72 seriously wounded patients plus 3 medical staffs; or 98 lightly wounded patients; or thirteen 1-metre size pallets; or three 4-metre size pallets; or one 6-metre size pallets.
ENGINES
The aircraft is powered by four WJ-6C turboprop engines. The internal fuel load is 23t.
SPECIFICATIONS
Flight crew: 4
Cargo cabin size: (length/width/height) 16.2m/3.2m/2.35m
Maximum take-off weight: 65,000kg
Payload: 20,000 kg cargo; or 98 equipped troops; or vehicles and weapons
Cruising speed: 550km/h
Maximum speed: 650km/h
Service ceiling: 10,100m
Crusing altitude: 8,000m
Range: Ferry range with max payload 1,000km
Runway: Take-off 1,350m; landing 1,350m
