New Chinese Airlifter Could Enter Service In 2020s
AWIN First
Bradley Perrett
Nov 11, 2014
A Chinese airlifter revealed by Avic this week will go into service in the 2020s if the factory behind the project, Shaanxi Aircraft, is given a go-ahead.
The program is at the stage of concept design, say Chinese industry officials. It should be launched into full-scale development in about two years, they add. If it is, and if development is smooth, a first flight could take place in 2020.
The air force does want such an aircraft, the officials say, expecting the type to become China’s main airlifter. The Global Times identifies the aircraft as the previously reported Y-30.
The Y-30 would have almost the same gross weight as the
Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, about 80 metric tons (176,000 lb.), but payload is intended to be 30 tons, compared with 19.6 tons of the U.S. aircraft. The type has apparently grown during the studies, since Avic has previously mentioned plans for a transport aircraft of about 60 tons gross weight.
As displayed in model form at Airshow China at Zhuhai this week, the aircraft has four turboprop engines, but many conceptual designs are under consideration, some with turbofan propulsion. An option for the turboprop is the WJ-16 engine, which is a new engine at an unknown stage of development and is supposed to generate 3,782 kW (5,072 hp.).
If jet propulsion is chosen there would be two engines, so the aircraft would be quite comparable in configuration to the
Embraer KC-390. The officials did not name the possible jet engine, but the likely candidate is the WS-20 engine under development for the much larger Y-20 heavy transport, the design gross weight of which is more than 200 tons.
The WS-20 in its current form is not at all a advanced engine, say other industry officials.
The maximum speed of the Y-30 will be 600-700 kph (370-440 mph.) and the range with payload will be 6,000-7,000 km.
Materials cannot be chosen at this early stage, but but some composites will be used.
Shaanxi Aircraft is the medium-airlifter specialist of Avic Aircraft, an Avic subsidiary that focuses on building large airplanes and their parts. It currently builds the Y-9, which is in the same class as the new aircraft and is derived from the Y-8, a Chinese version of the Antonov An-12.
The new aircraft would be wider than the Y-8, Y-9 and C-130, officials say. This is an important selling point, because the Chinese armed forces are not satisfied with the cargo dimensions of the Y-8 and Y-9.
Xian Aircraft, also part of Avic Aircraft, has developed the Y-20, the designation of which is now officially confirmed by Avic.
Chinese officials have also mentioned plans for a transport between the Y-20 and Y-30 in size. This appears to be the Y-19. The engine of the Y-19 is reportedly the WJ-10 of 5,000 kW, though that power would suggest a gross weight of perhaps only 110 tons, or less if high performance is wanted. Again, turbofan propulsion has ben considered and may still be under study, because officials say the program has not been launched.
Since the air force cannot urgently need three new airlifters—one of 80 tons, one of more than 200 tons and another in between—the Y-19 and Y-30 may compete for funding.
http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/new-chinese-airlifter-could-enter-service-2020s
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@Bilal9
BAF should consider investing in the project & place order. That will be good for them.
