Y-20 serial number 11255. Posted by @还是捣蛋 on Weibo.
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
Fuzzy video of Y-20B
Rumors suggested witness had seen first YY-20B with serial number.
Broccoli
Senior Member
Well, the YY-20B entering service even before the Y-20B would be a surprise!
Would make sense that fueler has engines what are less thirsty.
Apparently the USAF is doubling down on the BWB airlifter/refueler concept. They want a full-scale prototype to take flight by 2027 - Just 4 years from now. Seems like the USAF are indeed in a rush...
Should China be/Is China also pursuing similar technologies for the PLAAF's next-generation airlifter that comes after the Y-20?
If such airlifter designs can provide significant upgrades to the payload dimension and weight capacities (not necessarily reaching the levels of C-5 or An-124, but big enough to permit larger and heavier objects to be carried), fuel efficiency (consuming less fuel), range (able to carry similar payload weight for longer distances) and survivability (by having low-observability features) compared to the Y-20 - Then I don't see why not...
Should China be/Is China also pursuing similar technologies for the PLAAF's next-generation airlifter that comes after the Y-20?
If such airlifter designs can provide significant upgrades to the payload dimension and weight capacities (not necessarily reaching the levels of C-5 or An-124, but big enough to permit larger and heavier objects to be carried), fuel efficiency (consuming less fuel), range (able to carry similar payload weight for longer distances) and survivability (by having low-observability features) compared to the Y-20 - Then I don't see why not...
They'll pursue new airframe configurations for successor transport aircraft with time, I don't think it's our role to speculate as to if or when it will happen unless we have rumours or indicators of it.