lcloo
Captain
The boxes are self-refrigerating containers, also judging the angle of the shadows you can tell that it is early morning. No harm whatsoever.
China's transport, tanker & heavy lift aircraft
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
Not the boxes but the side of the door/hatch panels. It's also not in the morning but the afternoon.
Out of boredom, a tally of Y-20 looking shapes as observed via Sentinel satellite service in two known Y-20 regiments.
12th Regiment at Chengdu
8 airframes in june 2020
10 in july 2020
12 in october 2020
8 in january 2021
9 in february 2021
37th regiment at Kaifeng
9 in november 2020
10 in december 2020
11 airframes on two separate days in january 2021
10 airframes on three separate days in february 2021
12 on another day in february 2021
Xian factory parking seems to have 6 to 10 Y-20 size shapes throughout february 2021.
Plus several more on the testing part of the base (Yanliang).
But as resolution is so poor, it's really hard to say more precisely.
Is there another airbase where Y20 are regularly seen? PErhaps a training base? Where *is* pilot/crew trainign for Y20 done anyway?
Or is it done right there at Yanliang?
Anyway, it does seem plausible that there there are up to 24 Y20 airframes in two regular units plus several more in active service for training needs. With possibly another half a dozen or more to be handed over within months.
12th Regiment at Chengdu
8 airframes in june 2020
10 in july 2020
12 in october 2020
8 in january 2021
9 in february 2021
37th regiment at Kaifeng
9 in november 2020
10 in december 2020
11 airframes on two separate days in january 2021
10 airframes on three separate days in february 2021
12 on another day in february 2021
Xian factory parking seems to have 6 to 10 Y-20 size shapes throughout february 2021.
Plus several more on the testing part of the base (Yanliang).
But as resolution is so poor, it's really hard to say more precisely.
Is there another airbase where Y20 are regularly seen? PErhaps a training base? Where *is* pilot/crew trainign for Y20 done anyway?
Or is it done right there at Yanliang?
Anyway, it does seem plausible that there there are up to 24 Y20 airframes in two regular units plus several more in active service for training needs. With possibly another half a dozen or more to be handed over within months.
Most of the training is probably conducted in the classroom as well as the simulator. When I did my Q400 type rating conversion course, the FlightSafety facility in Farnborough also housed a C-17 simulator where I'd constantly see RAF crew going in and out from the cafeteria into the sim hall. No.99 Squadron is the only unit in the RAF that operates C-17s, and the unit itself only has eight airframes - that's why I'm almost certain most of their crew training is conducted in the sims. If we were to draw parallels, I could imagine Y-20 crews being trained in a similar fashion.
A pilot doesn't have to fly the real thing in order to get the stick-and-rudder proficiency in general handling, instrument flying, and non-normal procedures.... I doubt the military/government would want to risk actual airframes to allow pilots to practice emergencies anyway. That's not to say pilots won't fly training sorties, but that these sorties are purely used to teach/practice mission-oriented skills such as airdrop, low level flying, NVG operations, aerial refuelling, assault landing, short field landing... etc rather than on aircraft general handling or instrument flying. It provides the most training cost effectiveness balancing airframe mission availability as well as the defense cheque book - that's how the USAF and RAF do it anyway with their C-17s and C-130s.
Based on my understanding of the PLAAF pilot training system, conversion training (regardless if a pilot is assigned fast-jets, transport, and rotary) is completed with the actual brigade or regiment they are assigned to rather than the flying academy - The PLAAF doesn't operate conversion units similar to the USAF's Formal Training Unit or the USN's Replacement Air Group. Alas given XAC's current pace of production, I believe the priority should be placed on replacing the Il-76s (especially the refurbished ones) in the 38th and 39th Regiment from the 13th Transport Division over setting up a Y-20 training unit.
is it for real now or just another visual trick?
I don't think any of these are decisive.
We've been fooled before by satellite pictures that looked as convincing or even more convincing.
I would say at this stage it is probably more beneficial that we don't even bother with trying to find satellite pictures of Y-20 with WS-20s, until the day that we literally get a picture of a Y-20A and Y-20B right next to each other in the same high quality shot.
Fwiw I think the picture of the Y-20 in primer with four engines in primer has the most likelihood of being the Y-20B prototype that flew a while back, partly based off timing, and partly because the length of the engine itself seems noticeably shorter than what we know D-30s look like on Y-20s.
But not as decisive as I'd like tbh.
Again, I'm still not entirely sure concerning this new GE image of the Y-20B with WS-20 turbofan engines since indeed we have been fooled more than once before.
But my feeling tells me this looks like the Y-20B prototype in primer that made its maiden flight on 21 November 2020.
(Image via GE via Huitong's CMA-Blog)
But my feeling tells me this looks like the Y-20B prototype in primer that made its maiden flight on 21 November 2020.
(Image via GE via Huitong's CMA-Blog)
