Y-9 Multi-Purpose Transport Aircraft |
Y-9 |
Y-9 glass cockpit |
Development History
Shaanxi began to develop a new military transport designated Y-8X in 2001 to meet the PLA’s requirement for an advanced medium transport aircraft to replace its ageing Y-8 fleet. The aircraft later received a new designation Y-9. The Ukraine-based Antonov Aeronautical Scientific-technical Complex (ASTC) aircraft company provided some assistance to the Y-9 development, including the design of the airframe and wind tunnel testing.
Key Data
- Number in service: Unknown
- Designer: Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation
- Manufacturer: Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation
- Maiden flight: 2006?
- Crew: Four
- Powerplant: Four WJ-6C turboprop engines
- Max payload: 20 tonnes
- Max take-off weight: 65 tonnes
The Y-9 has a similar aerodynamic layout to the Y-8, with high-mounted wings and four turboprop engines mounted under the wing’s leading edge. The rear cargo door also serves as a ramp to allow quick load/unload of cargoes. The tail flats and fin are mounted high. Additional small vertical stabilisers are installed on the tailplanes.
The aircraft has a two-wheeled nose landing gear and two four-wheeled main landing gears. The aircraft has a four-man crew, including two pilots, a flight engineer and a loadmaster.
Cargo System
The Y-9’s cargo bay is 16.2 m in length, 3.2 m in width, and 2.3 m in height, with an internal volume of 155 cubic metres. The payload requirement includes a range of military vehicles, cargo containers, pallets, and paratroopers. With a maximum payload capacity of 20 tonnes, the aircraft is capable of carrying 98 paratroopers, or nine international standard pallets of 108” X 88”, or eight 125” X 96” pallets. The cargo bay is also equipped with cargo handling rollers and tie-down rings.
Avionics
In addition to radio communication and navigation systems, the Y-9 features a ‘glass’ cockpit and modern avionics including ground proximity warning and collision avoidance systems. An electro-optical turret containing forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and TV sensors is mounted under the fuselage for day/night, all-weather operation.
Engines
The Y-9 is powered by four WJ-6C (Wojian-6C) turboprop engines each rated 5.100hp. The engine features a six-bladed JL-4 propeller.
Specifications
CARGO BAY DIMENSIONS | |
Length | 16.2m |
Width | 3.2m |
Height | 2.3m |
WEIGHTS | |
Empty | 39t |
Normal take-off | N/A |
Max take-off | 65t |
Fuel capacity | 23t |
Max payload | 20t |
PROPULSION | |
Powerplant | 4X WJ-6C turboprop |
Thrust (dry) | N/A |
PERFORMANCE | |
Max level speed | 570km/h |
Cruising speed | 550km/h |
Cruising altitude | 8,000m |
Service ceiling | 10,100m |
Range | 5,000km |
Take-off/landing distance | 1,350m |
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