Y-20 heavy transport aircraft News & Discussions

[Deino]

January 2019 satellite photo.
View attachment 535451

Interesting, since four of them are lighter coloured than the other three ... at first I thought these might be the flightline at Xi'an (XAC) including some prototypes but it is indeed at Chengdu-Qionglai.

 

[LKJ86]

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

 

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

 

[lcloo]

Those Y20 that were rolled out earlier in previous months with-out engines now have them all fitted. There will be no less than 13 Y20 (re post #1265) for flight testing or are ready to be delivered to PLAAF.

 

[lcloo]

Number guessing time:-
a) 7 Y20 in PLAAF service have been sighted in photo
b) Henri K/ East Pendulum said more than 20 Y20 have been delivered
c) 8 prototypes were delivered
d) 13 Y20 sighted in factory in latest satellite photo.

Total aircraft for PLAAF service =>20 (delivered) + 13 (in factory) - 8 (prototypes) = >25 . i.e. at least 25 aircraft will be in service, not counting the eight prototypes.

However, there was a rumour one of the eight prototypes was converted for PLAAF service during 2016 Zhuhai Air Show,
so it is >25 + 1 = no less than 26 Y20 will be in active service in 2nd quarter of 2019.

 

[LKJ86]

Y-20U

http://www.dser.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1109856&extra=page=1&mobile=2

 

[Beast]

Y-20U
View attachment 541267

http://www.dser.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1109856&extra=page=1&mobile=2

For AWACS?

 

[Deino]

For AWACS?

AWACS? ... it's the tanker.

PS: Seems as if there are only two IFR stations on the wings and so I slowly get the feeling that it is more a IFR-capable variant of a standard transport similar to the IFR-pod equipped A.400Ms than a true dedicated tanker.

 

[Beast]

AWACS? ... it's the tanker.

PS: Seems as if there are only two IFR stations on the wings and so I slowly get the feeling that it is more a IFR-capable variant of a standard transport similar to the IFR-pod equipped A.400Ms than a true dedicated tanker.

Why is there a big hole on top of center fuselage? To install the radome?

 

[Deino]

Why is there a big hole on top of center fuselage? To install the radome?

I don't think it is a hole ... the regular Y-20A has this too, looks like some sort of com antenna or dome.

 

[nang2]

nobody has posted this? suspected WS20 testing vehicle.