YY-20 tanker refueling J-20 and J-16 jets
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
YY-20 tanker refueling J-20 and J-16 jets
No, we know it already but as it seems it is a renumbered 2084x - maybe 20846 - from the same unit.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Unbelievable !!!
Yes.
No. Airlifters are meant to be strictly hauling whatever the military demands (troops and/or military cargo) from point A to point B under wartime conditions. Hence, as airlifters are designed to be rugged, reliable and capable of perform even under extreme circumstances, their comfort level and endurance are comparably worse than commercial jetliners.
That's why even with Y-20 in active service with the PLAAF for years, President Xi still travels internationally onboard a specially-modified 747-8I (previously 747-400).
In fact, except during emergency situations, you don't see any country that uses airlifters as their presidential transport aircrafts.
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TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Correct the Russian Government and Rossiya airline maintains a special fleet of aircraft specifically for the use of Czar Vladimir… mean President Putin. The IL96 300 PU are the primary Presidential transport.
Well not in the case of modern China or much of the modern world. This isn’t entirely true. The most common dual use like this is of course rotary wing where aircraft like the H225/215, Aw101, Mi8/Mi17, S70, and H3 military helicopters ended up being pimp my ride into flying living room. However it’s not unheard of for it to happen to transport aircraft. C130 has flown leaders in a number of countries and Il76 has been albeit makeshift airliner. If you go back farther in history until the 1960s the line between military cargo plane and civilian airliner was very blurry.
Particularly as there really was only a handful of airliners on the market.
The 747-8I used by Xi is owned by Air China so it’s not a PLAAF aircraft. In fact Air China flies it in commercial revenue service. It has even been “lent” to Kim Jong Un for use by DPRK in transporting staff and limousines for summit with President Trump. Kim would either come on by Royal train or one the of the Antiquated Il62M used for transport of the Kim.
Again not true. Though this is less the case today. Countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia maintain VC130H as a presidential transports usually on short trips.
Now not the President a number of American VVIP officials have flown on C17.
These were used as until recently Civilian sourced aircraft like Buisness jets and Airliners didn’t have save for via extreme modifications lack Self defense suites. In the more modern era self defense systems have been introduced specifically for said role. Farther the short take off and landing capabilities were advantageous. Increasingly though this too has lost relevance.
@ACuriousPLAFan overall I am not I disagreement with the spirit of your statement just the letter.
Y20 is highly unlikely to serve as a direct means of transportation for CCP leadership unless it’s a National emergency or they are pulling a publicity stunt.
However longer term it may become part of the Paramount leadership’s aerial entourage.
We have seen in the last decade two trends I think will lead to the CCP leadership following a pattern on foreign visits more akin to American or Russian leadership involving multiple aircraft including strategic transports.
First During Xi’s November visit to the United States the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party did something unusual. He brought his own limousines. During a state visit like such the United States government is happy to provide all the transportation. In past trips even during bad points in the relations Xi and Putin have made use of this. Being Chauffeured around in an armored Chevrolet Suburban and with access to a Marine Corps helicopter. This time around Xi Jingping was Chauffeured in his own Hongqi N701 armored Executive limousine. Increasingly since 2018, Secretary Xi has brought his own car to foreign countries either the N701 or the smaller N501. It seems more likely that trend will continue. If it does so it may require more vehicles.
The Second trend is the decline of the Boeing 747-8I in passenger aviation. Air China its self has phased the Queen of the Skies back from almost all its routes. Today Air China only operates the JFK/NYC to Shanghai route via 747-8I. We already see sale of Korean Air 747-8I and others in draw down. The 747 series cargo holds had massive capacity and could easily store multiple limousines allowing Xi the Luxury of flying to state visits with his own ride. With the withdrawal of 747-8i although other widebody aircraft can do the same. It becomes more limited especially if the next General Secretary brings more vehicles. Now in all likelihood Air China would retain the 747-8i fleet in cargo and for the use of zhongnanhai until a successor aircraft is deemed ready. Given Comac’s current projects I suspect that the next generation of CCP leadership will want a C929 aircraft. That would likely have them flying vehicles and security personnel ahead on Y20.
Using Boeing planes for Chinese leaders should be phased out, since you are dependent on the US for spare parts.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
The same for Airbus. And it’s not like Russian aircraft don’t have that same problem.
Comac only has two aircraft types really and neither has the range or size. Rushing Russification of MC21 and SSj100 has stalled and we know hear that the MC21 will suffer significantly shorter range and payload as a consequence.
drunkmunky
Junior Member
is anyone keeping track on the number of chassis w/ the WS-20? are there new chassis online?
Thanks,
Thanks,