China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

Maikeru

Maikeru

Major
Registered Member
I see three distinct areas:

1. New production area with 15 x H6 & 12 x Y20 + 1 KJ600

2. Refurb/scrapping area(?) with 2 older H6s, 4 x J8, 5 x J6, 2 x JH7, 7 x J7, 1 x JL9

3. Flight line with 3 x KJ500, 1 x KJ600, 6 white painted Y8(? - they seem to have pointier noses than the Y9s), 6 x Y9, 5 x Y20 and 3 x H6.

Not including civilian and test-bed aircraft.

My questions are (i) what happens to the aircraft in the "refurb/scrapping" area; and (ii) what are the white painted Y8s for?
 
Confusionism

Confusionism

Junior Member
Registered Member
by78 said:
I spot three possible Y-20 airframes with WS-20 turbofans. Of course, some or all three could simply be D-30KP-2 with their cowlings open, but I don't think so. These look legit WS-20s to me. Also, the third image might show airframe 7810, which is known to be equipped with WS-20s.

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Oh man, those are clearly Y-20s equipped with WS-20s, and they are significantly different in width and length than the D-30s with the engine bay cover open, as Deino counted in last photo over a month ago.
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1506303411016327173
 
A

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
by78 said:
I spot three possible Y-20 airframes with WS-20 turbofans. Of course, some or all three could simply be D-30KP-2 with their cowlings open, but I don't think so. These look legit WS-20s to me. Also, the third image might show airframe 7810, which is known to be equipped with WS-20s.
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Judging by the shadows on the ground, the engines don't seem to have their cowlings opened.

So it's definitely that the particular Y-20 is fitted with WS-20s.

Edit: Whoops, I missed out on the newer replies when writing this.
 
S

supersnoop

Major
Registered Member
Maikeru said:
I see three distinct areas:

1. New production area with 15 x H6 & 12 x Y20 + 1 KJ600

2. Refurb/scrapping area(?) with 2 older H6s, 4 x J8, 5 x J6, 2 x JH7, 7 x J7, 1 x JL9

3. Flight line with 3 x KJ500, 1 x KJ600, 6 white painted Y8(? - they seem to have pointier noses than the Y9s), 6 x Y9, 5 x Y20 and 3 x H6.

Not including civilian and test-bed aircraft.

My questions are (i) what happens to the aircraft in the "refurb/scrapping" area; and (ii) what are the white painted Y8s for?
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Are you talking about the "South East" quadrant area?
The JL-9 being the J-7 size fighter with non-delta wings?
There are also some pretty new aircraft in that area (J-15, ZDK-500)
Since the ZDK-500 is unique to Pakistan and relatively new, probably some kind of overhaul area.

OT: The J-6 (Q-5?) and one of the J-7s look like they have some unique camo paint jobs.
 
Maikeru

Maikeru

Major
Registered Member
supersnoop said:
Are you talking about the "South East" quadrant area?
The JL-9 being the J-7 size fighter with non-delta wings?
There are also some pretty new aircraft in that area (J-15, ZDK-500)
Since the ZDK-500 is unique to Pakistan and relatively new, probably some kind of overhaul area.

OT: The J-6 (Q-5?) and one of the J-7s look like they have some unique camo paint jobs.
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Yes. I can imagine some a/c are there for modification and/or overhaul (Flankers, Flounders, ZDK-500), some for conversion to drones (J6-8) or tankers (H6). Not sure why that is done here though rather than at the OEM (for the fighters). I guess scrapping could be done anywhere so no need to come to XAC unless it operates as some kind of AMARC-a-like.
 
Confusionism

Confusionism

Junior Member
Registered Member
Maikeru said:
Yes. I can imagine some a/c are there for modification and/or overhaul (Flankers, Flounders, ZDK-500), some for conversion to drones (J6-8) or tankers (H6). Not sure why that is done here though rather than at the OEM (for the fighters). I guess scrapping could be done anywhere so no need to come to XAC unless it operates as some kind of AMARC-a-like.
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NO, They are there neither for modification nor for overhaul, the airfield is divided into two parts, only the apron at the southwest end belongs to Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation XAC, while the vast majority of the rest belongs to another entity, Chinese Flight Test Establishment, which is China's foremost authority on test flight. The old planes you see are only the planes used for testing by this institution.
 
Deino

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
lcloo said:
Latest photo collection #11251. CCTV7 footage via 沉默的山羊/Chinese Military Aviation.

Minimum number of Y20 in service is now 40. 11X51 = 21 aircraft, and 20X4X = 19 aircraft.

View attachment 87949
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In fact for me the most exciting question - besides WHEN WILL WE SEE THE H-20?? :p - currently is, which next unit will gain Y-20s?

Logically would be following the 4th and 13th Transport Divisions, either to convert additional regiments within those units or to for new units. And given the PLAAF's vast need for more tanker and transports, the question will be, WHICH unit will convert next?
 
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