The Shaanxi Y-8 is the most popular transport aircraft in service with the PLA, and is deployed by all three services—air force, army and navy.

陕西Y-8是在PLA服役中的最广泛的运输机，而且被所有的三军—空军、陆队和海军部署。

The Yun-8 (Y-8) tactical transport aircraft is a Chinese copy of the Soviet/Russia Antonov An-12 (NATO codename: Cub) under license built by Shaanxi Aircraft Industry (Group) Corporation based at Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province. Three decades since the aircraft first flew, the Y-8 remains in production and has been developed into over 20 basic and specialised versions to perform a diversity of roles including airlift support, maritime patrol, airborne early warning, electronic warfare, helicopter carrier, UAV carrier, radar testbed, etc. Currently there are over 100 planes in service with all three services of the PLA.

“运”（Yun）-8(Y-8)战术运输机是苏联/俄国 Antonov An-12(北约代号：幼兽)的一种中国仿造型，由位于陕西省汉中（Hanzhong）的陕西飞机制造厂(集团)在许可之下建造。从飞机首飞后三十年，Y-8生产和发展超过20种基本型和专门型，包括空运支援、海上巡逻、空中预警、电子战、直升飞机运送机、无人机（UAV）运送机、雷达测试平台等。现在有超过100架飞机在PLA所有三军中服役。

PROGRAMME

 

China obtained a small number of the An-12 (NATO codename: Cub) turboprop transport aircraft in the 1960s. The development of a licensed copy of the An-12 under the designation Y-8 was initially carried out by Xi’an Aircraft Company and Xi’an Aicraft Design Institute (now part of The First Aircraft Institute of AVIC-I). The prototype #1 using the Soviet-made kits was completed in December 1974 and made its maiden flight on 15 December 1974. Later the Y-8 production was relocated to the newly built aircraft manufacturing complex in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province. The first Hanzhong-built Y-8 (prototype #2) flew in December 1975. The aircraft design was certified in February 1980 and the batch production began in 1981.

在1960年中国获得了少量的An-12(北约代号：幼兽)螺旋桨推进运输机。发展一种许可仿造的An-12，命名为Y-8，最初由西安飞机公司和西安飞机设计院(现在中国第一航空工业公司（AVIC I）第一飞机研究院的一部分）进行。在1974年12月，使用苏联制造零配件的原型#1完成并且在1974年12月15日进行了首次飞行。稍后， Y-8生产被重新安排到陕西省汉中（Hanzhong）的新建的飞机制造联合公司。在汉中制造的Y-8(原型#2)在 1975年12月飞行。飞机设计在1980年2月通过检验和批量生产在1981年开始。

 

As well as serving as a tactical transport aircraft, the Y-8 was also developed into a number of specialised variants to meet different mission requirements. The first specialised version of the Y-8 is the maritime patrol aircraft for the PLA Navy introduced in 1984. The Y-8A specially developed to carry the S-70C “Black Hawk” helicopter entered service with the PLA in November 1985. Other variants include the airborne early warning aircraft, surveillance aircraft, UAV carrier Y-8E (introduced in 1990), airborne radar testbed Y-8CA, aerial survey variant Y-8H, civil passenger variant Y-8B, and civil cargo transport variants Y-8D/DII and Y-8F100/F200/F400/F600.

不仅服役被当做一种战术运输机，Y-8也发展许多的专门改型符合不同的任务需求。首先专门Y-8的型号是1984年生产的PLA海军海上巡逻机。Y-8A特别地发展携带黑鹰S-70C直升飞机在1985年11月进入PLA服役。其它的改型包括空中预警机、监视飞机、无人机（UAV）运送机Y-8E(在1990年生产)、机载雷达测试平台Y-8CA、航空测量Y-8H、民用乘客改型Y-8B、民用货物运输改型Y-8D/DII和Y-8F100/F200/F400/F600。

 

Early basic variant Y-8 had a pressurised cockpit and a crew cabin to accommodate 14 passengers. However, its cargo compartment was not pressurised. This has limited the aircraft’s use as troop carrier and special purpose platform. In 1984 Shaanxi was required to develop a fully pressurised variant that can carry paratroopers or electronic equipment operating crews to fly at high altitude. The development was assisted by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin), the designer and manufacturer of the U.S. C-130 Hercules turboprop transport aircraft. The modified Y-8C was completed in July 1990 and made its first flight on 17 December 1990. Currently most Y-8s flying with the PLAAF are C model.

早期基本型Y-8有一个增压驾驶座舱和一个乘员舱容纳14位乘客。然而，它的货物区没有增压。这已经限制飞机的使用如运兵飞机和特别的突击平台。在1984年陕西要发展一种完全增压改型以便能够携带伞兵或电子设备操作组员在高空飞行。发展被洛克希德(现在洛克希德·马丁公司)协助，美国C-130“大力神”螺旋桨推进运输机的设计和制造者。经修改的Y-8C在1990年7月完成并且在1990年12月17日进行了它的第一次飞行。现在PLAAF最大多数的Y-8是C型。

 

Since the late 1980s Shaanxi has developed a number of civil cargo transport variants upgraded with Western avionics to qualify for civil commercial flights. The latest Y-8F600 flew in January 2005. These models can be deployed for military use with minimum modifications. In 1985, a Y-8 successfully took off and then landed with only three engines running to demonstrate the aircraft’s reliability.

自从1980年后期以后，陕西已经发展许多民用货物运输机采用西方航空电子设备升级去取得资格用于民用商业飞行。最新的Y-8 F600在2005年1月飞行。这些型号能配置用于军用采用最小修改。在1985年，一架Y-8成功起飞和降落，仅仅使用三台发动机运行去示范飞机的可靠性。

 

VARIANTS
改型
 

命名（Designations）	首次飞行（First Flight）	说明（Description）
Y-8	1974年12月15日（15.Dec.74）	设计原型从1975年最初由陕西西安发展。生产从1980年开始。战术军用运输机基于An-12“幼狐”-Prototype initially developed by Xi’an and by Shaanxi since 1975. Production began in 1980. Tactical military transport aircraft based on An-12 Cub
Y-8 MPA	1984	海上巡逻机安装水面搜索雷达、电子战组件、昼/IR照相机和声纳浮标。-Maritime patrol aircraft fitted with surface search radar, electronic warfare suite, day/IR cameras, and sonobuoys
Y-8A	1985年11月3日（3.Nov.85）	直升飞机载机去运输S-70C“黑鹰”到西藏-Helicopter carrier to transport S-70C ‘Black Hawk’ into Tibet
Y-8B	?	民用货物型-Civil cargo variant
Y-8C	1990年12月17日（17.Dec.90）	改进型采用一个全增压货舱-Improved variant with a fully pressurised cargo compartment
Y-8D	1986	Export variant of the Y-8. In service with Bangladesh
Y-8DII	?	改进的Y-8D，采用西方航空电子设备升级。没有生产-Improved Y-8D upgraded with Western avionics. Not in production
Y-8E	1988年10月（Oct.88）	WZ-5（CH-1）无人机（UAV）载机-WZ-5 (CH-1) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrier
Y-8H	?	航空测量飞机-Aerial survey aircraft
Y-8CA	?	机载雷达测试平台-Aerial radar testbed
Y-8J	?	监视飞机安装使用英国的Skymaster雷达-Surveillance aircraft fitted with British 'Skymaster' radar
Y-8F	1988年11月19日（19.Nov.88）	牲畜运输机-Live stock transport
Y-8F100	?	升级Y-8，采用先进航空电子设备用于贸易货物飞行-Upgraded Y-8 with advanced avionics for commercial cargo flight
Y-8F200	1997	基于Y-8F100改型，采用全增压货舱。也在坦桑尼亚空军服役中。-Modified variant based on Y-8F100 with fully pressurised cargo compartment. Also in service with Tanzania Air Force
Y-8F400	2001年8月（Aug.01）	改进型采用一个硬式机鼻代替最初的玻璃前鼻和三人驾驶座舱-Improved variant with a solid nose replacing the original 'glass-in' nose and a three-man cockpit
Y-8 电子战（electronic warfare）	?	电子战和情报（EW/ELINT）改型-Electronic warfare and intelligence (EW/ELINT) variant
Y-8 机载指挥站 （airborne command post）	?	机载指挥中心-Airborne command centre
Y-8F600	2005年1月14日（14.Jan.05）	最新的改型，由陕西飞机公司、安托诺夫航空科学-技术联合体（ASTC）和普·惠加拿大公司共同发展。特点是再设计了机身和西方制造的航空电子设备和发动机。-Latest variant jointly developed by Shaanxi, Antonov Aeronautical Scientific-Technical Complex (ASTC) and Pratt and Whitney Canada. Features re-designed fuselage, as well as Western-made avionics and engine
Y-8 平衡木（'Balance Beam'）	2001年11月（Nov.01） 2005年1月14日（14.Jan.05）	也即是“No.5计划”。机载预警（AEW）飞机，基于Y-8F600-Also known as "Project No.5". Airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft based on Y-8F600

 

DESIGN
设计

 

The Y-8 has high-mounted wings with drooping outer wing panels, back-tapered leading edges, straight trailing edges, and blunt tips. Four turboprop engines are mounted under the wings' leading edges. The round, slender body features a stepped cockpit and glassed-in nose, with landing gear pods which bulge at lower body midsection. The tail flats are unequally tapered with blunt tips and mounted high on the fuselage. The fin is tapered with a blunt tip and a step in the leading edge.

 

The Y-8 differs to the An-12 in its longer, sharper glass-in nose that was copied from the H-6 (Tu-16) bomber design. Like the An-12, the basic variant Y-8 only had the front-half of its fuselage pressurised, while Y-8C has a fully pressurised fuselage.

Y-8与An-12的差异是比较长，从H-6(Tu-16)轰炸机设计仿造的尖玻璃-机鼻。像An-12，基本型Y-8只有前面- 一半机身增压，而Y-8C采用完全增压机身。

 

ARMAMENT
武器

 

The basic variant Y-8 inherited the An-12’s tail turret which mounts a twin 23mm cannon, but this is removed on the later variants.

 

AVIONICS

 

The Y-8 is fitted with basic radio communication, Doppler navigation, autopilot, radio compass, altitude radio altimeter, maker beacon receiver,  rear warning receiver, and identification friend or foe (IFF). The aircraft is capable of all-weather, day/night flight.

 

The civilian version Y-8 is also fitted with Western-made avionics for commercial flight, including flight director system (FDS), air data computer, VOR/ILS, comparing warning, air traffic control receiver, UHF radio, weather radar, Litton Omega navigation system, Bendix/King HF communication, Sundsstrand universal flight data recorder (UFDR), and cockpit voice recorder.

民用型Y-8也安装使用西方制造的航空电子设备用于商业飞行，包括飞行指挥仪系统(FDS)、空气数据计算机 、VOR/ILS、比较警告、空中交通管制接收机、超高频无线电、气象雷达、Litton Omega导航系统、Bendix/King HF通信、Sundsstrand万用数据飞行记录器(UFDR)和驾驶座舱声音记录器。

 

CARGO SYSTEMS

 

The Y-8 has a non-pressurised (fully pressurised on Y-8C) cargo compartment that can rapidly be reconfigured for the carriage of passengers, paratroops, or stretchers. The size of the cargo compartment is 13.5m X 3m X 2.4m, which can accommodate 96 armed soldiers; or 82 paratroops; or 60 stretchers plus 23 lightly wounded patients and 3 medics; or 16t containers; or 20t cargo. The cargo compartment is equipped with a two electric winches and a 2.3t payload overhead cargo system where the cargo can be suspended from an electrically powered rail. Rollers in the floor of the cargo compartment enable quick and easy handling of cargo pallets and can be removed to leave a flat surface if needed.

 

The aircraft can be committed for high- and low-altitude airdrops of troops, vehicles and cargo. The basic variant Y-8 can air drop pallets of 1m, 2m, 4m and 6m size. A single maximum airdrop is 7.4t. A pallet can be air dropped within 6 seconds. Early variants had two side-hinged cargo compartment doors, while on later variants these were replaced by a single ramp cargo door for fast loading/unloading. 

飞机能委托用于高-和低海拔空投伞兵，车辆和货物。基本型Y-8能空投平板架1米、2米、4米和6米尺寸。一个单一的最大空投是7.4吨。一个托板能被空投在6秒内。早期型有侧边装铰链的货物舱门, 在较后的改型上改为单一的斜坡门用于快速装载/卸货。 
 

POWERPLANT

 

The Y-8 is powered by four Zhuzhou WoJiang-6 (WJ-6) turboprop engines mounted on the wings, each rated at 3,120kW (4,250shp). Internal fuel capacity is 22,910kg, with no external fuel tanks.

Y-8采用四台Zhuzhou WoJiang-6(WJ-6) 涡轮发动机提供动力，安装在机翼上，每台额定在3,120千瓦(4,250 轴马力)。内部燃料容量22,910公斤，没有外部燃料箱。

 

SPECIFICATIONS

 

Flight crew: 5 (Y-8), 3 (Y-8F400) 

Wingspan: 38.0m

Length: 34.02m

Height: 11.6m

Cargo compartment size (length X width X height): 11.35m X 3.5m X 2.6m

Empty weight: 35,488kg

Normal take-off weight: 54,000kg

Maximum take-off weight: 61,000kg

Payload: 20,000kg cargo; or 96 equipped troops; or vehicles and weapons; or 130 passengers

Cruising speed: 550km/h

Maximum speed: 662km/h

Service ceiling: 10,400m

Maximum climb rate: 10m/s (sea level) 

Range: Ferry range 5,620km

Flight endurance: 10.5hours

Runway: Take-off 1,270m; landing 1,050m

 

飞行人员： 5(Y-8)，3(Y-8 F400)

翼展： 38.0米

机长： 34.02米

高度： 11.6米

货物舱尺寸：(长度X宽度X高度) 11.35米X3.5米X2.6米

空重： 35,488公斤

正常起飞重量： 54,000公斤

最大起飞重量： 61,000公斤

负载量： 20,000公斤货物；或96名武装军人；或车辆和武器；或130位乘客

巡航速度： 550公里/小时

最大速度：662公里/小时

实用升限： 10,400米

最大爬升率： 10米/秒(海平面)

航程： 转场航程5,620公里

飞机续航力： 10.5小时

跑道： 起飞1,270米；降落1,050米