Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been trying to stay at home. Out of boredom, I’ve been spending time restoring old photos. Today, I’m sharing a few shots of the Y-20 from the Zhuhai Airshow.

Unfortunately, the Visibility was poor, and it was backlit, so the photo results aren’t ideal. Please just bear with them.

The Y-20 transport aircraft (Y-20), codename Kunpeng, is a heavy military transport aircraft developed by China's Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Group. It is currently the largest military aircraft independently developed in China.

Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Group (XAC) is responsible for the majority of manufacturing, including final assembly. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC), Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation (SAC), Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG), and Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Research Institute also participated in the production of components.

The Y-20 draws reference from the aerodynamic configuration and airframe structure of the C-17 and IL-76. It adopts a conventional layout with a T-tail. The wings are cantilevered high-mounted wings with swept leading edges, no winglets, and incorporate a supercritical airfoil design.

In terms of military use, the Y-20 is not only wider and taller than the Il-76, but its maximum payload capacity reaches 66 tons, capable of carrying heavy equipment such as main battle tanks. Its maximum flight distance has also increased to 7,800 kilometers (for personnel transport).

This new transport aircraft can not only handle urgent domestic transport tasks within China but also conduct strategic and humanitarian relief material delivery to the Asian region. Additionally, the Y-20’s avionics have seen significant improvement compared to the Il-76, which can greatly reduce crew fatigue.