Shaanxi Aircraft is undertaking final assembly of the first batch of Shaanxi Y8-F600 test aircraft and expects the freighter variant to be certificated by the end of next year. Shaanxi vice-president Liu Bin says the Y8-F600's first flight will be "in January or February next year".
China Postal Airlines, which operates five Y8-F100s, signed a letter of intent to be launch customer for an undisclosed number of Y8-F600s.
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Shaanxi has also been speaking with other potential customers, such as Shaanxi United Delong Airlines in Xian and Okay Airways in Tianjin, says Liu. Shaanxi is waiting for United Delong's air operator's certificate to be approved before beginning formal negotiations.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150B-powered Y8F-600 is a derivative of the Y8F-400, which used the indigenous WJ6 engine.
Source: Flight International
