Shaanxi Y-8
Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation · China · first flew 1974 · transport aircraft
The Shaanxi Y-8 is China's domestically produced derivative of the Soviet Antonov An-12 transport, serving the People's Liberation Army Air Force in a wide variety of transport and special-mission roles for over four decades.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 34 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Chinese An-12 clone
- four turboprops
- rear cargo ramp
Nearly identical to the An-12 in overall configuration; distinguishing features include different engine nacelle shapes on later variants and Chinese-style cockpit glazing; the rear gun turret of the An-12 is absent on most Y-8 versions.
Specifications
- The Shaanxi Y-8 has a length of 34 m (112 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 38 m (125 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 662 km/h (411 mph).
- Typical crew: 5 + up to 96 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
China acquired An-12 transports and technical data from the Soviet Union in the 1950s; following the Sino-Soviet split, Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation reverse-engineered and refined the design, producing the Y-8 from 1974 onwards. Successive modernisation programs incorporated Western avionics, new turboprops, and improved cargo systems.
Variants
Over a dozen sub-variants exist, including the Y-8C with a Western-style pressurised cargo hold, the Y-8F livestock carrier, maritime patrol variants, and the Y-8 AWACS-like AEW testbed.
Where you'll see it
The primary workhorse of PLAAF tactical airlift from the 1980s onward; also exported to Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Sudan. Gradually being replaced by the Y-9.
Related aircraft
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