China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft

Xizor

Captain
Registered Member
So what happened to the An-225 plot? Wasn't China planning to build a model last year?
I am as under the impression that China has merely acquired the licensing for the An-225.

Having got the license to build and actually building one is different?
Maybe they'll be using the licenses to improve the size of Y-20 ( "A plus size girl ")?

Anyway, replicating the An-225 may not be best for China in the long term. Maybe a Y-20 is all that is required to meet China's needs.

Do remember the origin of An-225. Wasn't it built to carry the Buran?

Do read up on the Case of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy with its decades long structural issues and demand for maintenance.

I think we'll see elements of An-225 incorporated into a lengthened version / bigger version of Y-20.

Note : I don't know the nature of licenses bought. So there's that too.
 

para80

Junior Member
Registered Member
I dont see any requirement An-225 would be filling for China. It's not just an enlarged An-124, but really a different design not suitable for any kind of strategic military airlift (lacks a ramp, for starters). So unless China has a similar space program requirement for a transport that the USSR developed An-225 for, I think that's a dead end. Using An-124 design as jumping off point for a domestic airlift platform would be a different story.
 

OppositeDay

Senior Member
Registered Member
I think it's safe to assume whatever plan China has for An-225 it would have to do with the space program rather than strategic airlifting. There has been talks about an air-launched spaceplane design and a modified An-225 seems to be a good candidate for the airplane component.
 
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asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
I am as under the impression that China has merely acquired the licensing for the An-225.

Having got the license to build and actually building one is different?
Maybe they'll be using the licenses to improve the size of Y-20 ( "A plus size girl ")?

Anyway, replicating the An-225 may not be best for China in the long term. Maybe a Y-20 is all that is required to meet China's needs.

Do remember the origin of An-225. Wasn't it built to carry the Buran?

Do read up on the Case of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy with its decades long structural issues and demand for maintenance.

I think we'll see elements of An-225 incorporated into a lengthened version / bigger version of Y-20.

Note : I don't know the nature of licenses bought. So there's that too.

I would agree with this

A license fee paid could mean alot more to China without build

and its not uncommon for China to pay licence fees and not build anything, in the Oil and Gas sector they did this lot around 20 years ago

unless the contract says they must build but then they simply dont sign, so either make money from the licence fee or nothing

so I would like to think they are getting some benefit from that programme which will be in-corporated into another programme
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Sold to the Turks!
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interesting I just did a google translate on this and its very recently news like 2 days ago

so China was interested in the second unfinished An-225 which is 70% complete sitting in the Kiev hanger

however the cost to get it flying again is like $300-400 million

off course this airframe will need a complete refurb and overhaul and upgrade too much work

so looks like China has pulled out and now Ukraine is approaching the Turks to get it done

I think Ukraine basically wants a buyer for this unfinished airframe and is trying to make a quick buck here

if Chinese didnt see a economical scope to this I very much doubt any country in the world will

looks like the 2nd will never see completion and eventually Ukraine might get fed up and dismantle it

try convincing investors that it will be used for air freight cargo but we need 1/3 of a billion dollars

the return will be like 100+ years and will put any investor off

bad investment, nothing short of another Soviet style space programme can save this An-225
 

Xizor

Captain
Registered Member
try convincing investors that it will be used for air freight cargo but we need 1/3 of a billion dollars

the return will be like 100+ years and will put any investor off
Also especially when there are civilian cargo aircrafts that are very economical
Boeing 747cargo versions etc.

This has got to have a military angle. Turkey might be looking for an aircraft that can help it in developin a heavy lift line.

Also,where did turkey get the money from ? Japan ?
 

crash8pilot

Junior Member
Registered Member
This is incredible. Why can't the PLA just come out and say that the Y-20 is now flying with WS-20 engines. Or that the WS-20 is still in testing phase. what is the big dea
Switching out existing imported D-30KP low bypass engines for high bypass locally produced and unproven WS-20 would theoretically bring out all sorts of changes and implications. That's why initial operational test and evaluation is a lengthy process, you don't just slap on new engines and say "voilà, job done". There's plenty of testing ahead (aircraft and engine performance as well limitations, fuel burn, thrust output, maintenance planning and implication of supply chain management for parts and spares, effects/changes on existing operational procedures, implications on long term strategy.... etc.) before the PLAAF introduces the WS-20 variant across its mobility air force.
 
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