The Xian Y-7 is a conventional high-winged, turboprop-powered regional airliner / transport aircraft designed, developed, and produced by Chinese aero-industry (Xi'an Aircraft Industries Corporation). The aircraft flew for the first time on February 20th, 1984 and entered service thereafter, resulting 103 airframes being built. The design stems from years of experience in manufacturing and operating Soviet-era Antonov An-24 and An-26 tactical transport types (these detailed elsewhere on this site).
The base Y7-100 variant is typically crewed by three and can carry up to 52 passengers or cargo. Overall length reaches 79.4 feet with a wingspan measuring 97.3 feet and a height of 28 feet. Empty weight is 33,045 with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) being 48,060lb. Power is from 2 x Dongan WJ-5A turboprop engines developing 2,400 horsepower each and used to drive four-bladed propeller units in tractor fashion.
Performance includes a maximum speed of 315 miles-per-hour, a cruising speed near 265 mph, a range out to 570 miles, and a service ceiling of 28,700 feet.
The high-winged nature of the airframe allows for strong short-field take-offs and landing capabilities, providing the perfect balance of lift-versus-drag at low speeds. This arrangement also makes loading/unloading the aircraft relatively safer and simpler with the engine nacelles elevated quite a distance from the tarmac. Beyond this, the aircraft has a traditional configuration with its side-by-side seating flightdeck positioned aft of a short nosecone, a single vertical tailfin with low-set horizontal planes, and short landing gear legs to keep the airframe relatively close to the ground.
Variants aplenty in regards to this hauler, a military model being the "Y-7G" serving the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Civilian variants are designated with hyphenated details such as the "Y7H-500" of 1994, the "Y-7-100C1/C2/C3" with some equipment changes, and the "Y-7-200" with modernized avionics set (though sans winglets at wingtips). The Y-7-200A is powered by 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW127C American turboprops and the Y-7-200B follows with WJ5A-1G Chinese turboprops and a lengthening of the fuselage. The Y-7-MA60 (MA60) was a "westernized" model to better sell to Western-aligned operators - this version makes up the aforementioned militarized Y-7G.
China remains the only operator of the series (on the military side) - former operators include Cambodia, India, Iran, Laos, Mauritania, and Zimbabwe. Chinese civilian air carriers have since moved on from the type.
Specifications
Year: 1985
Status Active, In-Service
Crew 3
Production 103 Units
Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XIAC) - China
Cambodia; China; Iran; Laos; Mauritania; Zimbabwe
- Transport
- Commercial Market
Length:
79.46 ft (24.22 m)
Width:
97.34 ft (29.67 m)
Height:
28.22 ft (8.6 m)
Empty Weight:
33,069 lb (15,000 kg)
MTOW:
48,061 lb (21,800 kg)
(Diff: +14,991lb)
(Showcased weight values pertain to the Xian Y-7-100 production model)
Service Ceiling:
28,707 feet (8,750 m; 5.44 miles)
Max Range:
565 miles (910 km; 491 nm)
(Showcased performance values pertain to the Xian Y-7-100 production model; Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database)
None.
(Showcased armament details pertain to the Xian Y-7-100 production model)
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.
* Ribbons not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns/operations.
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Cambodia; China; Iran; Laos; Mauritania; Zimbabwe
