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Xian Y-7

1985 COLD WAR MODERN

Xian Y-7 History

Xi'an Yun-7 is a conventional, high-wing, turboprop powered regional passenger/transport aircraft designed, developed and produced by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation). The aircraft first flew on February 20, 1984, and has since entered service with 103 airframes produced.

The design is based on years of experience building and operating Soviet-era Antonov An-24 and An-26 tactical transport types (described elsewhere on this site).

The base Y7-100 variant typically has a crew of 3 and can carry up to 52 passengers or cargo. The overall length reaches 79.4 feet, with a wingspan of 97.3 feet and a height of 28 feet. Empty weight is 33,045 and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 48,060 lbs.

Power comes from 2 Dongan WJ-5A turboprop engines, each producing 2,400 hp, driving four bladed tractor-style propeller units.

Performance includes a top speed of 315 mph, a cruising speed of nearly 265 mph, a range of up to 570 miles and a service ceiling of 28,700 feet.

The high-wing character of the fuselage allows for powerful short-field takeoffs and landings and provides a perfect balance of lift and drag at low speeds. This arrangement also makes loading/unloading of the aircraft relatively safer and easier since the engine nacelles are far from the runway.

Additionally, the aircraft features a traditional configuration with a side-by-side flight deck behind a short nose cone, a single vertical tail, a low horizontal plane, and short landing gear legs to keep the fuselage relatively close to the ground.

China remains the sole operator of the series (military) - the previous operators were Cambodia, India, Iran, Laos, Mauritania and Zimbabwe.

Xian Y-7 Specification

BASICS

Service Year

1985

Origin

China

Status

ACTIVE

In Active Service.

Crew

Production

103

MANUFACTURER(S)

Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XIAC) - China

OPERATORS

Cambodia; China; Iran; Laos; Mauritania; Zimbabwe

ROLES

Transport

General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

Commercial Aviation

Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS

Length

79. 5 ft

(24. 22 m)

Width/Span

97. 3 ft

(29. 67 m)

Height

28. 2 ft

(8. 60 m)

Empty Wgt

33,069 lb

(15,000 kg)

MTOW

48,061 lb

(21,800 kg)

Wgt Diff

+14,991 lb

(+6,800 kg)

POWER & PERFORMANCE

Installed:

2 x Dongan Wj-5A turboprop engines developing 2,400 horsepower driving 4-bladed propeller units.

Max Speed

314 mph

(505 kph | 273 kts)

Ceiling

28,707 ft

(8,750 m | 5 mi)

Range

565 mi

(910 km | 1,685 nm)

ARMAMENT

None.

VARIANTS

Y-7 - Base Series Designation. Y-14 - Original designation covering reverse-engineered Soviet An-26 / Y-7H production models. Y-7E - Militarized variant of the original MA60 model; Chinese Air Force service. Y-7H - Model of 1992; essentially reverse-engineered Soviet An-26 complete with rear loading ramp; Chinese Air Force service. Y7H-500 - Y-7H civilian market variant of 1994.

Y-7-100 - Improved variant with modernized cockpit (Western avionics) and modified wingtips; enhanced passenger interior. Y-7-100C1 - Revised operating equipment; 5-man crew. Y-7-100C2 - Similar to 100C1 model; revised equipment. Y-7-100C3 - Similar to 100C1 model; revised equipment. Y-7-200 - Modernized avionics fit; lacking winglets at wing tips.

Y-7-200A - Pratt & Whitney PW127C series turboprop engines. Y-7-200B - Local Chinese civilian market variant; powered by local WJ5A-1G turboprop engines; lengthened fuselage (by 29 inches). HYJ-7 - Pilot/crew trainer to mimic controls and response of Xian H-6 strategic bombers serving the PLAAF and PLANAF; equipped with enhanced navigation and bombing assistance systems.

MA60 - Export-minded Y-7 for civilian marketplace with Western avionics. JZY-01 - Experimental Y-7 serving AWACS testing for Xian KJ-600 aircraft.