Chinese Aviation Industry

THX 1138

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I question the conclusion drawn here on why US still using C130. It is no longer hitting the sweet spot as the size and weight of the typical cargo has changed comparing when C130 was the sweet spot. US is still using it because the supplier got them.

According to Wikipedia, Lockheed Martin has been consistently delivering about 25 new units per year over the past 10 years. New ones are still being regularly delivered to the U.S. military. The U.S. Navy is considering placing additional orders. A whole bunch of countries have already placed new orders since 2020, including Australia, Sweden, the Philippines, Egypt, New Zealand, etc.

Countries are using them because they need them, not because they're stuck with old aircraft. The Y-8/Y-9 is basically the same size as a C130. Clearly, the PLA sees the importance of having an airlifter of this size as well.
 

luncheonham

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According to Wikipedia, Lockheed Martin has been consistently delivering about 25 new units per year over the past 10 years. New ones are still being regularly delivered to the U.S. military. The U.S. Navy is considering placing additional orders. A whole bunch of countries have already placed new orders since 2020, including Australia, Sweden, the Philippines, Egypt, New Zealand, etc.

Countries are using them because they need them, not because they're stuck with old aircraft. The Y-8/Y-9 is basically the same size as a C130. Clearly, the PLA sees the importance of having an airlifter of this size as well.
PLA and CAAC need heavy lifters... as well as oversize cargo lifters (ie. C-5/AN-22, Super Guppy/ Beluga)
 

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
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PRC need both AN-22 type transport and a "Super Guppy" type transport.
PRC need a handful of heavy lifters (eg. C-5 / An-22) ...as the Boeing 747 cargo variant isn't capable of landing/take-off on unpaved runways.
PRC also need a couple of "Super Guppy / Beluga" to airlift oversize cargos.
PLA and CAAC need heavy lifters... as well as oversize cargo lifters (ie. C-5/AN-22, Super Guppy/ Beluga)

1. Do China need Super Guppy-type airlifter?
- Yes, but not exactly of Super Guppy design.

Especially when doing the alternative (i.e. Beluga XL-type airlifter) is actually way better.

Now with the C929 in the pipeline, it's only a matter of time before a Beluga XL-type design based on the C929's airframe is realised. Is it important to have? Absolutely. But it's not urgent to have, given China's vast road transportation network.

2. Does China need An-22-type airlifter?
- No, not really.

Why even bother with An-22-type airlifters with max payload of 70-80 tons, when larger airlifters in the C-5M (if not An-124) category with max payload capacity of 110-120 tons is in the works?

The same reasoning applies to the Y-30 - That is, why even bother to have yet another new, separate category for airlifters with 30+ tons of payload capacity while being sandwiched in between 20-30 and 60-70 tons of categories?

If something can be ferried by the Y-9/Y-30, then do so. If something is bigger than what the Y-9/Y-30 can carry, then just let the Y-20 carry it.

Similarly, if something is bigger than what the Y-20 can carry, then just let a C-5M-equivalent or a C-124-equivalent airlifter carry it instead. No need for an An-22-equivalent as an airlifter in a yet another new, separate category.
 
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luncheonham

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Registered Member
1. Do China need Super Guppy-type airlifter?
- Yes, but not exactly of Super Guppy design.

Especially when doing the alternative (i.e. Beluga XL-type airlifter) is actually way better.

Now with the C929 in the pipeline, it's only a matter of time before a Beluga XL-type design based on the C929's airframe is realised. Is it important to have? Absolutely. But it's not urgent to have, given China's vast road transportation network.

2. Does China need An-22-type airlifter?
- No, not really.

Why even bother with An-22-type airlifters with max payload of ~80 tons, when larger airlifters in the C-5M (if not An-124) category with max payload capacity of ~120 tons is in the works?

The same reasoning applies to the Y-30 - That is, why even bother to have yet another new, separate category for airlifters with 30+ tons of payload capacity while being sandwiched in between 20-30 and 60-70 tons of categories?

If something can be ferried by the Y-9/Y-30, then do so. If something is bigger than what the Y-9/Y-30 can carry, then just let the Y-20 carry it.

Similarly, if something is bigger than what the Y-20 can carry, then just let a C-5M-equivalent or a C-124-equivalent airlifter carry it instead. No need for an An-22-equivalent as an airlifter in a yet another new, separate category.
I like the PRC to have heavy lifters that's capable of takeoff & landing on unpaved runways in overseas Humanitarian missions.
I like the PRC to have "Beluga" to transport spacecraft components and other oversize cargo (ie. Across the country quicker than on roads and sea)
 

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
I like the PRC to have heavy lifters that's capable of takeoff & landing on unpaved runways in overseas Humanitarian missions.

Y-20 is your answer.

Yes, the Y-20 can actually takeoff and land on unpaved runways, just like the C-17. It's a must-have capability for military airlifters.

I like the PRC to have "Beluga" to transport spacecraft components and other oversize cargo (ie. Across the country quicker than on roads and sea)

They will get there eventually.
 

luncheonham

New Member
Registered Member
Y-20 is your answer.

Yes, the Y-20 can actually takeoff and land on unpaved runways, just like the C-17. It's a must-have capability for military airlifters.



They will get there eventually.
I have a different thing in mind for PRC heavy lifters... designated Civilian heavy lifters.
The last thing we all want...is to give CIA-MI6-Mossad-Pentagon-IDF the "excuse" of shooting down "PLA" aircrafts.
 

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
I have a different thing in mind for PRC heavy lifters... designated Civilian heavy lifters.

Xi'an AC could indeed roll out a civilian version of the Y-20, namely without all the confidential/sensitive military instruments and equipment installed onboard, which can then be operated by civilian cargo airlines and charter airlines.

Developing a completely new design just for civilian usage, however, isn't worth the effort.

The last thing we all want...is to give CIA-MI6-Mossad-Pentagon-IDF the "excuse" of shooting down "PLA" aircrafts.

I don't see how that's relevant to the discussion.
 
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by78

General
AC332 has recently completed a series of high-temperature flight tests to verify its hydraulic and ventilation systems under high-temperature conditions.

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AC332 has successfully completed rain testing, which simulated heavy rainstorms environment.

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