PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)
- Thread starter bd popeye
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Isn't this simply our old and well known AEW/C-testbed ?
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Most likely; the actual in-service platform may still be a Y-7, though.
The structure of Y-7 was not designed for use from a carrier. You need a dedicated aircraft design for that work.
I expect a heavily modified Y-7 to act as the base for their AEWC and COD aircraft. The test bed we've known about for a while I think is more for aerodynamic testing rather than testing actual carrier takeoffs or arrested landings.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
MA600, then?
No. MA600 is equally designed for use on runways. Fighter aircraft are reasonably robust and need less reinforcement to make them fit for use on carriers. Transport aircraft are not fit to be the basis for carrier aircraft. You just start with a clean computer monitor. Well, clean? But you get the sense, you design a new aircraft and don't reuse parts of transport aircraft, even before you remember that the materials need to be different to account for the presence of a lot of salt in the air.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Well, considering that even a C-130 can be landed on an aircraft carrier, I can't fathom that it would be too difficul to modify a Y-7 to fit carrier platforms. Even if they have to start with a new aircraft project, there should be no harm in adopting the Y-7 airframe design.
There is a vast difference between once landing an unladen C-130 on an aircraft carrier under ideal circumstances and using a transport aircraft or equivalent on a flattop for many years and under nearly all circumstances.
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