On Saturday, the Chinese military conducted its first successful test flight of their first domestically made jumbo airfreighter.
State-owned China Central Television depicted the four-engine jet, known as the Xian Y-20, taking off from the military airfield in Yanliang, central China.
The Xian Y-20 (“Y” for Yun, meaning “transport”) falls roughly in the same class as the American C-17 or the Russian Il-76. It is also the latest in a chain of new Chinese airplanes. Since late 2010, Beijing has debuted two stealth fighter prototypes, a new carrier-based naval fighter (plus radar and patrol planes!), as well as two gunship helicopters.
After flying what appeared to be a short test flight, the Xian Y-20 landed in front of a crowd waving Chinese flags.
This according to the government-run Xinhua news service:
The successful maiden flight of Yun-20 is significant in promoting China’s economic and national defense buildup as well as bettering its emergency handling such as disaster relief and humanitarian aid.
Footage of the Xian Y-20’s first flight can be seen below:
[Source: Wired]
