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PLAAF's Y-20 large airlifter drawing attention at Airshow China.
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Airshow China 2016
1 - 6 November 2016 Zhuhai - Jinwan Airport |
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PLAAF's Y-20 large airlifter drawing attention at Airshow China
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Day 1 at this 11th edition of Airshow China, being held in Zhuhai from 1-6 November, and the PLAAF latest large transport aircraft, the Xian Y-20, is already drawing the attention on the tarmac and in the air. The Y-20, developed by Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation, was flown for the first time by Chinese military in January 2016.
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 One of the two PLAAF's Y-20 large military airlifters presented at Airshow China 2016 |
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The development phase of the Y-20 was launched in 2006 and officials stated that the aircraft "completed development" at the end of 2015.
According to defense analysts, the PLAAF would need up to 1,000 Y-20s to fulfill its needs. The first serial Y-20 was delivered to the PLAAF on July 6, 2016 and assigned to the 4th Transport Division. A second aicraft will be handed over in a near future. The Y-20 is currently powered by four Soloviev D-30KP-2 turbofans, the same than the Russian Il-76MD airlifter. Chinese military intends to replace them with the homegrown 14-ton thrust Shenyang WS-20, which is based on the WS-10A turbofan. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 918 km/h and a range of 4,500 km with max payload, and more than 10,000 km with paratroops. PLAAF's Y-20 features a payload of 66 tonnes. It incorporates incorporates a total of four LCD electronic flight instrument systems. |
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