C-17 had a very strict landing requirements which are likely much more than Y-20's requirement as is rumored in the Chinese community, that's why it has a full reverse unlike the Y-20. Remember that the C-17 has much more powerful engines as well.
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft - esp. Y-20/YY-20
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
lcloo
Major
Developing a standard cascade thrust reverser for Y20's engine may benefit development of CJ-1000A and CJ-2000 engines, as this dual military and civil application could be cost saving by sharing development costs of thrust reverser, and ease the supply chain.
C-17 type thrust reverser and IL-76 clamshell type reverser have full thrust reverse capability, i.e. they can direct 100% thrust away from the rear, they can even move the aircraft backward while on the ground.
Y20 and commercial type cascade thrust reverser act mainly like brake, slowing down the aircraft speed by reversing 25-40% (depends on manufacturer) of the thrust away from the rear. The hot jet from engine core is not reversered.
The reason that PLAAF's choice of thrust reverser type could be either (1) to save cost, or (2) preference for a simple and easier to maintain thrust reverser rather than the mechanical complexity of C-17 type, or both.
C-17 type thrust reverser and IL-76 clamshell type reverser have full thrust reverse capability, i.e. they can direct 100% thrust away from the rear, they can even move the aircraft backward while on the ground.
Y20 and commercial type cascade thrust reverser act mainly like brake, slowing down the aircraft speed by reversing 25-40% (depends on manufacturer) of the thrust away from the rear. The hot jet from engine core is not reversered.
The reason that PLAAF's choice of thrust reverser type could be either (1) to save cost, or (2) preference for a simple and easier to maintain thrust reverser rather than the mechanical complexity of C-17 type, or both.
Last edited:
Some more photos of the two recently-spotted Y-20Bs. Posted by @欧阳振我86468 on Weibo.
Per the latest count on satellite imagery 99 maybe + a few more!
But can the Y-20 carry MBT's to require being able to land at near MTOW in austere airfields?. And like I said, brake nowadays are good enough, it is one of the reasons why the A380 only has thrust reversers in the inboard engines.
After all, 80% of the thrust in high bypass turbofans come from the fan itself with 20% being the core so the complexity and weight for that extra 20% might not be worth it, particularly if you can compensate it with the brakes, which you need to carry them anyway, so might as well.
Last edited: