Two Y-20 Transport Aircraft
Chinese PLAAF Takes Delivery of First Two Y-20 Transport Aircraft
Posted on 16 June, 2016
Xian Y-20 prototype 783 being displayed at the Zhuhai Air Show on November 16, 2014. The first two Y-20s were handed over to the PLAAF yesterday and delivered today to the 4th Air (Transport) Division at Chengdu-Qionglai.
CHINA’S PEOPLE’S Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has taken delivery of the first operational Xian Y-20 strategic transport aircraft. Two of the type were handed over at the Xian factory yesterday, June 15. Both were then flown out today to Chengdu-Qionglai Air Base, near Sangyuan, to enter service with the 4th Air (Transport) Division. The first aircraft, 11051 ’01’, landed at Qionglai around 1200hrs local time, followed by the second shortly after 1700hrs.
The deliveries follow over three years of testing since the maiden flight of the first prototype, which took place on January 26, 2013. A total of five prototypes have been involved in flight testing, the fifth and most recent, ‘789’ having made its first flight on February 6 this year. It followed soon after the fourth prototype, ‘788’, which was first seen on January 23. The other three prototypes are 781, 783 and 785.
In 2014, the PLA National Defence University’s Centre for Economic Research issued a report indicating that the Chinese military was likely to require up to 400 Y-20s. More recently, during a technology innovation exhibition in Beijing, held between June 1-7, Zhu Qian, head of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Large Aircraft Development Office, said that more than 1,000 Y-20s will be needed. He did not elaborate further and this estimate may include requirements for commercial cargo operators as well. AFD-Dave Allport