Perhaps some more competition in the medium transport market shortly from China. Looks like they have shown a new transport aircraft that is smaller than the Y-20 but probably larger than the Y-8. No idea on turbofan or turbo prop engine though.

In a surprise move today, XAC at Xi’an Yanliang has shown a new transport plane to the world when it towed a cargo plane smaller than the Y-20 from the Final Assembly Line to the Static Test building west of the airfield.

https://twitter.com/scramble_nl/status/ ... 9553477632



What are everyone’s impressions of the size, smaller or similar to the A400M?

Ozair wrote:

What are everyone’s impressions of the size, smaller or similar to the A400M?

Why impressions when we have all the numbers?

It is 38 feet shorter, 2 feet narrower, and 3 feet lower, so cargo volume is slightly less than half.

And just as important, the A400M hauls 45,000 lbs cargo 150 miles further than the KC-390 empty ferry range.

prebennorholm wrote:

Ozair wrote:

What are everyone’s impressions of the size, smaller or similar to the A400M?

Why impressions when we have all the numbers?

It is 38 feet shorter, 2 feet narrower, and 3 feet lower, so cargo volume is slightly less than half.

And just as important, the A400M hauls 45,000 lbs cargo 150 miles further than the KC-390 empty ferry range.

You do realise Ozair is talking about the Chinese built aircraft in the photo he posted ? If it is indeed what you are giving figures for, where did you get the figures and what is the designator for the new aircraft ?

To me it looks a little smaller than an A400, but looks as though the cabin height should be fairly high.

jupiter2 wrote:

To me it looks a little smaller than an A400, but looks as though the cabin height should be fairly high.

if that really is the fuselage of the y-20 looks appear to be deceptive:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi%27an_Y ... timated%29

66t max payload ( 220t MTOW )

WIederling wrote:

jupiter2 wrote:

To me it looks a little smaller than an A400, but looks as though the cabin height should be fairly high.

if that really is the fuselage of the y-20 looks appear to be deceptive:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi%27an_Y ... timated%29

66t max payload ( 220t MTOW )

I think it is indeed a Y-20. Compare the cockpit and radome shape, the door hinges and the gear fairing. If it isn't a Y-20 they must've reused a lot and/or shrank it all to scale.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi%27an_Y ... e:Y-20.jpg

mxaxai wrote:

WIederling wrote:

jupiter2 wrote:

To me it looks a little smaller than an A400, but looks as though the cabin height should be fairly high.

if that really is the fuselage of the y-20 looks appear to be deceptive:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi%27an_Y ... timated%29

66t max payload ( 220t MTOW )

I think it is indeed a Y-20. Compare the cockpit and radome shape, the door hinges and the gear fairing. If it isn't a Y-20 they must've reused a lot and/or shrank it all to scale.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi%27an_Y ... e:Y-20.jpg

The text with the photo says that it is smaller than the Y-20. Also to me the undercarriage fairing seems to be of a slightly different shape to the Y-20, which I must say is a good looking aircraft. Wouldn't be surprised if this new aircraft turns out to be a 4 engine turboprop, or a twin engine jet.

I shudder to think of how much money and resources the Chinese and putting into their aerospace industry, particularly the military side of it.

mxaxai wrote:

I think it is indeed a Y-20. Compare the cockpit and radome shape, the door hinges and the gear fairing. If it isn't a Y-20 they must've reused a lot and/or shrank it all to scale.

I think you're right. Fool on me for being trolled by Twitter...

The lights on the gear fairing appear to be the same. I thought it was missing the small cut in the wing root but that is probably obscured by the tree branch. The photo is very low rez but this one in a similar aspect makes it pretty clear it is a Y-20.



Perhaps a new version?

To me those are two different (although obviously linked by design) aircraft.
3 clues :
- windscreen wippers: size and distance from the nose cone
- main wheels: angle of the fairings relative to the fuselage and ground
- cockpit rear window: different shape (more squarish on the Y-20)

ITMercure wrote:

To me those are two different (although obviously linked by design) aircraft.
3 clues :
- windscreen wippers: size and distance from the nose cone
- main wheels: angle of the fairings relative to the fuselage and ground
- cockpit rear window: different shape (more squarish on the Y-20)

Thought we should stick the two images close enough together to identify any similarities and differences.




What differences can be seen.
- Gear fairing the Y-20 has undercarriage doors outside of the wheels, new aircraft has none. (could be added to Y-20 at a later date), same with the nose wheel.
- Gear fairing is more sloped into the fuselage on Y-20.
- Potential slight differences with nose cone. Blunter nose on new aircraft and less distance from tip of nose to cockpit window
- Hinges on the door appear to be closer together.
- Ratio from nose to wing root looks reasonably close to the same.
- Agree on the wiper changes.

I'm still leaning towards a modification or new variant of the Y-20 against a whole separate aircraft.