Y-9 class I presume?
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
this is really interesting update.
Shaanxi has been looking for funds for Yuan-30 medium transport aircraft for long.
is it revival of this project or totally new program ?
Unfortunately, his post on Weibo has disappeared.
Anyways, I could think of three possibilities:
#1: Y-20-F100 with 4 turbofan engines (slightly larger, civilian version of Y-20)
#2: Y-30 with 4 turboprop engines (comparable to Airbus A400M)
#3: Y-XX with 2 turbofan engines, possibly WS-20 (comparable to Kawasaki C-2)
Possibility #1 is the least likely, since Xi'an would be more suitable for dealing with what is essentially a derivative/variant of Y-20, as they are the ones responsible for designing and manufacturing Y-20s.
Possibility #3 looks more likely than possibility #1. But again, only Xi'an has the knowledge and experience of dealing with turbofan-powered airlifters.
Besides, considering that this auction is from Shaanxi, this leaves possibility #2 as the most likely - Mainly because they are responsible for designing and manufacturing Y-8s and Y-9s.
Which relates to this:
However, considering that Y-9 was introduced into service barely a decade ago, is there really a need for a clean-sheet Y-30 to replace Y-9 so soon?
China has no need for a class of turboprop-powered large airlifters (i.e. Antonov An-22-equivalent) either, since China already has the Y-20 and the upcoming Y-50 (tentative designation) for transporting payloads that are 30 tons and above.
So what do you guys think?
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asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
never understood the viability of the Y30
Y9 and Y20 cover each other
there is no space in-between
Y9 and Y20 cover each other
there is no space in-between
Y9 is super old platform with old engines, without much sense to reengine it because cargo volume is limited. Y30 role is to replace Y9 in the future, and all older Y8 airframes still in service, offering wider larger cargo space, new engines, new airframe materials...
If you want to make a turboprop where are the engines? AEP500 engine still nowhere to be seen.
If you want an aircraft the size of A400M even AEP500 with 5000hp would still be too weak. You would need twice as much power.
Maybe turboshaft version of WS-19 engine would have enough power but would require substantial time and investment.
If you want an aircraft the size of A400M even AEP500 with 5000hp would still be too weak. You would need twice as much power.
Maybe turboshaft version of WS-19 engine would have enough power but would require substantial time and investment.
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AEP-500 is ready.
Engine will have 8 propellers. they have announced last year during Chinese national holidays.
maximum power output -
TP-400D6 - 8200KW
AEP-500 - 5000KW
so you think. they will stick with only 5000KW thrust engine. nope. more powerful variants coming too.
i know its too early to talk about but as per old details, Yuan-30 maximum carrying capacity will be 30 tons. A400 maximum carrying capacity is 37 tons. i m not an aviation expert but i think if Shaanxi go for Yuan-30, AEP500 thrust is more than enough. they can increase the power output of AEP-500 if needed.
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I think the Y-9s will be still be re-engined with the AEP500. This Y-30/XX, assuming it's a clean sheet design, will only enter service in around 8 years time assuming everything goes smoothly.
This means the Y-9 airframe is likely to remain the primary tactical airlifter for at least 10 years more and even longer for specialized roles such as MPA and ELINT and you want it to continue using a heavily modified engine design from the 1950s?
