China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

^ That screen capture comes from CCTV, the state television service. You can see the PLA logo. So no, it's not BS.

Here are some new pics from CDF.

I also saw these pics on some of the Chinese forums today (they're on today's CCTV news, anyway). They were said to be the wind tunnel tests of Y-9. I thought Y-9 suppose to be bigger than the current Y-8. But from those models the overall size of Y-9 looks similar to Y-8.

I recall that Y-9 have all the time been a direct decendant from the Y-8 series. It's mented for the same role and had somewhat similar engine arragment and also almoust equal size. The shape was bit narrower than the bulky An-12 features but othervice quite similar.

Originally Posted by kickars

I also saw these pics on some of the Chinese forums today (they're on today's CCTV news, anyway). They were said to be the wind tunnel tests of Y-9. I thought Y-9 suppose to be bigger than the current Y-8. But from those models the overall size of Y-9 looks similar to Y-8.

same size, just suppose to have longer range per payload and supposed to have better avionics and more suited for special missions.

Y9 is a little bigger inside than the Y8. Y8 can hold 98 fully epq-ed paratroopers, the Y9 can hold 109 paratroopers. Y9 project was to fly in early 2007, now it is at least one year delay for the first fly. The reason for the delay was given as the PLAAF wants the Y-9 to loose more dead weight and has a more modern cockpit. the Y9 will have a two men flight crew and a loadmaster in the back. So i take the more modern cockpit would mean better electronics not less crew members.

Originally Posted by beijingcar

Y9 is a little bigger inside than the Y8. Y8 can hold 98 fully epq-ed paratroopers, the Y9 can hold 109 paratroopers. Y9 project was to fly in early 2007, now it is at least one year delay for the first fly. The reason for the delay was given as the PLAAF wants the Y-9 to loose more dead weight and has a more modern cockpit. the Y9 will have a two men flight crew and a loadmaster in the back. So i take the more modern cockpit would mean better electronics not less crew members.

not really. These paratroopers numbers are arbitrary. What Y-9 bring is better fuel efficiency. I'm sure they can hold 109 paratroopers in Y-8. It just would not be optimal for range factor that's all. As for delay reasons, I just think SAC is incompetent.

when the Y9 first came out of the news, I read that the inside volume has been increased as compared to Y8, I forget from where i read it, I think it is SAC pamphlet from last Zhouhai airshow. someone may have a scan of it on file. From what i remember, it stated the inside of Y9 is both taller and wider than Y8. BTW, with 98 paratroopers inside of Y8, you are stuffing the troops like sardines, there is no room for 10 more. unless they sit on top of each other. As you know, even 7 or 8 years ago, SAC was almost bankrupt and treated like a lost Child with no orders. so a lots skilled workers and tech staff left the company, that is one of the reason why they are slow to developing new products now.

sac engineers are the children of well connected families, they were selected accordingly and not because of any brilliance they may have or not have

i would assume Y-9 to have better coordinated capability to drop the troops at the right spot as well with better ECM thus increased its chance of survival.

Reminds me of the C-133 Cargomaster. And Roger, do you know where I can find the pic of the 6 engine model? Want to see.

I guess this is a model of the larger jet set to compete with Boeing and Airbus in the news recently.

Originally Posted by AssassinsMace

I guess this is a model of the larger jet set to compete with Boeing and Airbus in the news recently.

from the nose looks like Sukhoi desgin.

What's the designation? It's a civvie plane like ARJ but for longer flights. May also have something to do with the CGI transport aircraft in the wind-tunnel.

sumdud: sorry, I haven't seen anything particularly worthwhile