China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

Maikeru

Maikeru

Major
Registered Member
Deino said:
At least not yet, since the PLAN - in fact they are not PLAAF HU-6 but PLAN H-6DU - does not operate Y-20s yet and therefore at least now they won't operate Y-20U tanker.
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As more H6Js come on stream will PLANAF convert more older H6's to tankers do you think? Or will they get Y-20U instead? H6 may not be a great tanker but the older models do not appear to be great bombers and tanker conversion would at least get some use out of the remaining airframe life.
 
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SanWenYu

Captain
Registered Member
Maikeru said:
As more H6Js come on stream will PLANAF convert more older H6's to tankers do you think? Or will they get Y-20U instead? H6 may not be a great tanker but the older models do not appear to be great bombers and tanker conversion would at least get some use out of the remaining airframe life.
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The H-6 based tankers are well known for not maneuverable at low speed. A big issue for tankers. They also don't have the required load capacity.
 
A

AndrewS

Brigadier
Registered Member
Maikeru said:
As more H6Js come on stream will PLANAF convert more older H6's to tankers do you think? Or will they get Y-20U instead? H6 may not be a great tanker but the older models do not appear to be great bombers and tanker conversion would at least get some use out of the remaining airframe life.
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Is it worth fitting new engines on the older H-6 variants?
 
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AndrewS

Brigadier
Registered Member
Maikeru said:
I doubt it. Would require major work on the air inlets at a minimum and none of these aircraft are particularly young.
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If they have the same payload and range, I'm not sure if it is worth doing much with them.

So keep the older H-6s with the same mission
Alternatively, there might be an ISR/EW conversion. They don't really benefit from the engine improvements on the new H-6s
 
szbd

szbd

Junior Member
Maikeru said:
As more H6Js come on stream will PLANAF convert more older H6's to tankers do you think? Or will they get Y-20U instead? H6 may not be a great tanker but the older models do not appear to be great bombers and tanker conversion would at least get some use out of the remaining airframe life.
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H6U/H6DU can transfer ~18ton fuel, it's at least good for training.
 
Deino

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Maikeru said:
As more H6Js come on stream will PLANAF convert more older H6's to tankers do you think? Or will they get Y-20U instead? H6 may not be a great tanker but the older models do not appear to be great bombers and tanker conversion would at least get some use out of the remaining airframe life.
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Yes, but it makes no sense to replace all these early generation bombers due to newer and more efficient engines and then convert them to tanker and so keeping the old engines in service.

IMO we won't see any additional refurbished ones but a steadily increasing number of Y-20U
 
Maikeru

Maikeru

Major
Registered Member
Deino said:
Yes, but it makes no sense to replace all these early generation bombers due to newer and more efficient engines and then convert them to tanker and so keeping the old engines in service.

IMO we won't see any additional refurbished ones but a steadily increasing number of Y-20U
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No I meant just keep the old engines and do minimum effort tanker conversion so at least they are of some use for their remaining airframe lives.
 
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