China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
Schumacher
Senior Member
WS20 is already flying on a testbed.
Pointblank
Senior Member
Unless the Chinese really want to place severe operational restrictions on the Y-20 before the aircraft has a chance to fly, you simply do not want to build an aircraft this big and not pressurize it. The bulk of the physical work, the dispatching of crew and equipment is low altitude for a strategic airlifter, but preparing the equipment and personnel often takes place at altitudes where pressurization or oxygen is required - and trust me trying to rig equipment while tethered to an oxygen mask is not fun, easy or efficient.
You really need pressurization for crew comfort and efficiency sake at high altitudes, especially if you have to fly through mountainous regions or even weather.
Jovian
Junior Member
I've not heard of WS-20 before. Do you have more info about it? Is it related CJ-1000A (?), the engine for C919? If you have links to photos on the testing of this engine, please post it here.
WS-20 is the high bypass version of WS-10
But I imagine they could use CJ-1000A when it's available too.
Y9 isn't a good example as it is a simpler aircraft based a good deal on existing design.
c17, c2 or a400m are better examples.
C 17 took some four years from first flight to entry into service with usaf.
A400m hasnt entered service with the first user yet but there are fair chances it will happen by the end of next year. If so, it would also mean some 4 years from first flight to service entry.
c2 is still in testing, after flying in january 2010. It too seems to be on course to spend at least 4 years from first flight to service entry.
So, assuming y20 will fly sometime in the next few weeks, i'd say it's unlikely the first operational regiment would go into active service before end of 2016. or beginning of 2017.
that also suggests the 2011 order of 184 d30p engines wasn't made primarely for the y20 programme. we may expect another order in the coming years, be it an order of russian or domestic engines.
c17, c2 or a400m are better examples.
C 17 took some four years from first flight to entry into service with usaf.
A400m hasnt entered service with the first user yet but there are fair chances it will happen by the end of next year. If so, it would also mean some 4 years from first flight to service entry.
c2 is still in testing, after flying in january 2010. It too seems to be on course to spend at least 4 years from first flight to service entry.
So, assuming y20 will fly sometime in the next few weeks, i'd say it's unlikely the first operational regiment would go into active service before end of 2016. or beginning of 2017.
that also suggests the 2011 order of 184 d30p engines wasn't made primarely for the y20 programme. we may expect another order in the coming years, be it an order of russian or domestic engines.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
This aircraft on its own can change the entire doctrine of the PLAAF, no other aircraft can do this
The implications this has goes far and wide, now China can establish a airborne division, they can drop in mechanized infantry like light vehicles and also transport MBT over vast distances, they can transport troops and equipment rapidly
Along with Y-9 the Y-20 combination will be able to lift some serious resources, that's 2 modern cargo aircraft (heavy and medium lift) will form the core of a rapid response force, I mean Y-9 is no joke it's C-130J class so it means Y-20 will be C-17 class, the remarkable thing is both have flown within months of each other
The extra used IL-76 will be good to add to the current fleet to get the troops trained and when Y-9 and Y-20 are online they can convert the force
Along with Y-7/Y-8/IL-76 add to that Y-9 and Y-20 we have a really good cargo/transport fleet there
PLAAF already operates 10 IL-76 and 3 were delivered in 2012 and 10 more are due to join next year, since they are used they will be delivered quickly I guess, which means 23 x IL-76 will be operational, also there is 4 IL-76 platforms used for the KJ-2000 AWACS
For the first time in a long time things seems to be looking good for China air lift capability
The implications this has goes far and wide, now China can establish a airborne division, they can drop in mechanized infantry like light vehicles and also transport MBT over vast distances, they can transport troops and equipment rapidly
Along with Y-9 the Y-20 combination will be able to lift some serious resources, that's 2 modern cargo aircraft (heavy and medium lift) will form the core of a rapid response force, I mean Y-9 is no joke it's C-130J class so it means Y-20 will be C-17 class, the remarkable thing is both have flown within months of each other
The extra used IL-76 will be good to add to the current fleet to get the troops trained and when Y-9 and Y-20 are online they can convert the force
Along with Y-7/Y-8/IL-76 add to that Y-9 and Y-20 we have a really good cargo/transport fleet there
PLAAF already operates 10 IL-76 and 3 were delivered in 2012 and 10 more are due to join next year, since they are used they will be delivered quickly I guess, which means 23 x IL-76 will be operational, also there is 4 IL-76 platforms used for the KJ-2000 AWACS
For the first time in a long time things seems to be looking good for China air lift capability