Xi'an Y-7

Y-7

National origin: People's Republic of China
Manufacturer: Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation
First flight: 25 December 1970
Developed from: Antonov An-24 Antonov An-26
Variants: Xian MA60

The Xian Y-7 (Chinese: 运-7; pinyin: Yun-7) is a transport aircraft designed and built in the Peoples Republic of China. It is based on the Soviet-designed Antonov An-24 series.

Development

The People's Republic of China imported the Antonov An-24 from early in its production run and also negotiated licences for production of the aircraft and its engines. The first Chinese-assembled An-24T had its maiden flight on 25 December 1970. Production was launched in 1977 at the Xi'an aircraft factory but progress was slow due to the deletrious effects of the Cultural Revolution, with a pre-production aircraft displayed to the public at Nanyuan air base, near Beijing, on 17 April 1982. The first production aircraft was not flown until February 1984, illustrating the slow progress (eighteen years from licence to production).

The Chinese aircraft equated to the An-24RV, having a full complement of windows and the booster jet engine. The majority of early deliveries were to the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), mostly as transports, with a few in 52-seat airliner configuration for the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). After the initial licenced production run the Y-7 was developed separately from the An-24 with a succession of upgrades culminating in the MA60 (Modern Ark) series.

A tactical transport derivative was copied, un-licenced, from the Antonov An-26 and emerged as the Y-7H, incorporating the cargo ramp door and military equipment of the An-26.

Variants

Xian Y-7
Chinese-built version powered by two Dongan WJ5A turboprop engines.
Xian Y-7E
Speculative designation for a 'Hot and High version with more powerful engines.
Xian Y-7G
A military variant of the MA60 produced for the PLAAF.
Xian Y-7H
(Hao -cargo) A reverse-engineered An-26 with rear loading ramp for the PLAAF, entering production in 1992.
Xian Y7H-500
Civil variant of the Y-7H certified in 1994.
Xian Y-14
The original designation for the An-26 copy/Y-7H.
Xian Y7-100
Improved version, developed in co-operation with HAECO (Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company), with redesigned cockpit and cabin, as well as winglets.
Xian Y7-100C1
Five-crew variant with equipment changes.
Xian Y7-100C2
Five-crew variant with equipment changes.
Xian-Y7-100C3
Five-crew variant with equipment changes.
Xian Y7-200
Fitted with new avionics; without winglets.
Xian Y7-200A
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127C turboprop engines.
Xian Y7-200B
Stretched version (74cm (29in)) with WJ5A-1G engines, built for the Chinese domestic market.
Xian HYJ-7
(Hongzhaji Yunshuji Jiaolianji - Bomber/transport/trainer) A pilot and crew trainer for H-6 heavy bombers fitted with a stabilised HM-1A bombsight, bomb-aiming radar and a TNL-7880 combined navigation system.
Xian MA60
(Y7-MA60) (Modern Ark 60 seats) A westernised variant of the Y-7 intended to attract more western customers and meet Joint Airworthiness Requirements.

Operators

Cambodia

Phnom Penh Airways
President Airlines

Iran

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

Laos

Lao Airlines - 4 in service
Laos Air Force

Mauritania

Mauritanian Air Force

People's Republic of China

Air Changan
Air China
China Eastern Airlines
China General Aviation
China Great Wall Airlines
China Northern Airlines
China Southern Airlines
Civil Aviation Flight University of China
People's Liberation Army Air Force
Shanxi Airlines
Sichuan Airlines
Wuhan Airlines
Zhongyuan Airlines

Specifications (Y7-100)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 3
Payload: 5,500kg (12,125lb)
Length: 24.218m (79ft 5˝in)
Wingspan: 29.666m (97ft 4in)
Height: 8.553m (28ft 0žin)
Wing area: 75.26m (810.1ft)
Airfoil: TsAGI S-5
Empty weight: 14,988kg (33,042lb)
Max takeoff weight: 21,800kg (48,060lb)
Powerplant:
1x— PY19A-300 Turbojet, 900kgp (1984lb)
2x— Dongan WJ5A Turbo-prop, 2,000-2,400ehp () each
Propellers: Baoding J-16-G10A propeller, 1 per engine
Propeller diameter: 3.9m (12ft 9˝in)

Performance

Maximum speed: 503 km/h (313mph)
Cruise speed: @ 6,000 m (19,685ft), 423 km/h (263mph)
Range: max payload 910km, max fuel 1,982km (max payload 565miles, max fuel 1,231miles)
Service ceiling: 8,750m (28,700ft)
Take-off run at maxTOW 640m(2,100ft)

Gordon, Yefim. Dmitry & Sergey Komissarov. “Antonov's Turboprop Twins”. Hinkley. Midland. 2003. ISBN 1 85780 153 9
Komissarov & Gordon. “Chinese Aircraft”. Hikoki Publications. Manchester. 2008. ISBN 9 781902 109046
Airliner World January 2007

Xi'an Y-7 Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia