China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Strange nacelle, does not match either AEP400/WJ-10 nor WJ-6.

can't match with WJ-6 or AEP400 but have we ever seen WJ-10 engine/nacelle before these pics ? nope. so this is most likely WJ-10 nacelle.

@Oneninety on Weibo affirmed that the engines on the Y-15 are actually WJ-10s with 6x propellers per engine.



Also, if I remembered correctly, SOYO on Weibo did mention that the AEP380(?), AEP400, AEP500, and WJ-10 are separate (individual) turboprop engine projects.

Hence, I think the turboprop engines used on the resurrected MA700 that took flight some time ago is most likely to be AEP380(?) or AEP400.

 

[00CuriousObserver]

Some lightly higher quality photos + a new one + a video. All posted by @DavidWangPLA

Discretion for AI is advised

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2060639884101161055

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Zoomed in on the bottom view of the Y-15. Yup, that's 6 propeller blades per WJ-10 engine.

 

[Blitzo]

I'd also add that the current paint scheme (a low vis grey) is somewhat consistent with the Y-9 colours used, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the eventual in service colour is similar to this current appearance given they are both tactical transporters at the end of the day.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

In addition, those small pod-like structures at the bottom of the engine cowlings certainly aren't air intakes, given how far they are from the forward edge.

Correction - The small pod-like structures on the WJ-10 cowlings are most likely to be auxiliary air intake ports. This feature is also visible on the turboprop engine cowlings of the A400M and C-130.

 

[Tomboy]

Correction - The small pod-like structures on the WJ-10 cowlings are most likely to be auxiliary air intake ports. This feature is also visible on the turboprop engine cowlings of the A400M and C-130.

View attachment 175813

Those are just heat exchanger intakes to cool gearbox oil, MA700's nacelles just integrated the main intake and heat exchanger intake into a single external opening while Y-15's has a separate opening.

 

[Maikeru]

This article claims early/prototype Y-15s are equipped with AEP400 engines (or military equivalent) which will be upgraded to AEP500 once that engine is mature enough. AEP400 is still a big improvement over WJ-6, 4200kW vs 3800kW, 900kg vs 1200kg and better fuel consumption:

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[Tomboy]

This article claims early/prototype Y-15s are equipped with AEP400 engines (or military equivalent) which will be upgraded to AEP500 once that engine is mature enough. AEP400 is still a big improvement over WJ-6, 4200kW vs 3800kW, 900kg vs 1200kg and better fuel consumption:

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This post goes against everything we know so far. AEP series are very probable going to stay civilian only while WJ-10 has a power rating of only 3800-4000kWish. AEP500 is also likely dead or in limbo given that there isn't any actual projects that could use it.

 

[00CuriousObserver]

The very first sentence about the number 15 on the fuselage is already quite a flag.

They probably got that from the Chinese Wiki, which sources a 网易 article with an AI photo.

 

[00CuriousObserver]

Y-15

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2061740721397530907