China's Y20 readies for flight test

[Jaap]

Rumour has it that this morning the Y20 started its slow speed taxi trials.
Production of the first prototype was officially finished on 8 December, I believe with XAC at Xi'an Yanliang.

First flight soon!

(The Y20 is a reduced size C-17)

[Jaap]

Taxi trials.

[Jaap]

With taxi trials continuing after a small paint job, 1st flight is suggested to be before new years holidays (i.e. 28 January). So hopefully sharper pictures soon.



Jaap

[Thijs]

According Chinese sources, the first flight willbe this morning. Various vips have arrived at the test base.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Jaap]

14.00 local time the XAC Y20 got in the air for the first time, escorted by a J15(!), for a 60 minutes test flight.

The serial was reported earlier as 20001, but I haven' t seen any confirmation.



(nice aircraft recognition photo for the NSK)

[Jaap]

Serial confirmed (xxyzz=type/batch/sequence)

[Jaap]

Nice TV-report of the first flight
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... cKCgfikVQM[/youtube]