Military AircrewA forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
Looks like a real programme, albeit CANDID sized. From a Russian site and via Google Translate:
"Photo caption states that "one of these days AVIC Landing Gear Advanced Manufacturing Co. (Official English title units AVIC) prematurely passed [the customer] sample chassis of a priority project." This "ensures successful execution of the annual targets for the development and manufacture of equipment and weapons."
Chassis presumably intended for future Chinese heavy military transport aircraft Y-20, the development and production preparation of which the company Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation (HAS) in Xi'an. Earlier it was reported that the aircraft, approximately corresponding to the size of the Russian IL-76, may make its first flight in 2012. At Y-20, at least at first, to be installed Russian engines D-30KP2."
Comment: D-30KP2 are the original CANDID engines - which the Chinese have extensive experience of.
Last edited by Squirrel 41; 26th Dec 2012 at 02:32.
I bet even the Chinese aren't thick enough to put an aft side loading door in it, provide a ramp you have to assemble to get the loads in and out and then attempt to sell it as a military tactical freighter as BAe tried to do with the 146
Crew: 3 Payload Capacity: 60,000-65000 kg Length: 49 m Wingspan: 50 m Height: 15 m Wing area: 310 m2 Empty weight: 100,000 kg Max takeoff weight: 220,000 kg Power: 4×turbofans Maximum speed: 750-800 km/h Range: (with max payload) 4,400 km Service ceiling: 13,000 m
during the last few yrs several analysts suggested these new chinese machines probably are just fancy mock-ups, and then they took off a few days later..
Unusual to see a configuration with such pronounced main wing anhedral, yet a very tall fin. I wonder whether it is optimised to fly max-range with only two engines operating.
This aircraft has been under development for several yrs. Earlier mock-ups, models and artist impressions featured higher BPR engines.
It seems the Chinese decided they couldn't wait for the right engine and moved ahead with a proven one. They'll continue flight and system testing, taking a hit on range on the initial aircraft.
Looking at the current PLA size and territory they have a pathetic small transport fleet. No doubt the Chinese want several hundred of these (& Y-9) ASAP, so probably little export ambitions.
