China's Xi'an Aircraft has launched a new variant of the MA60 turboprop with an order from Zimbabwe while Shaanxi Aircraft is moving forward with a new freighter derivative of its Y-8 turboprop.
Shaanxi president Hu Xiaofeng says the Y-8F600 is on schedule to fly in July 2005 and be certificated in 2006. Capable of carrying a payload of 20t into short airfields, the aircraft is being marketed to cargo operators in China and abroad.
Hu says the manufacturer has already signed letters of intent for over 40 aircraft from Chinese airlines, and is negotiating possible deals with foreign militaries.
The aircraft is being marketed mainly as a replacement of the original Y-8, derived from the Antonov An-12. Hu says Antonov helped Shaanxi design the new configuration, which is "almost all new". Sales of more than 100 aircraft over the next 15 years have been projected.
Xi'an had similar high prospects for the An-24/Y-7-derived MA60 when it was certificated in 2000. Instead, the manufacturer has only delivered 11 of the aircraft, none of which are currently in service.
But Zimbabwe signed a deal at last week's Zhuhai air show for four MA60s, expected to be delivered next year to state-owned Air Zimbabwe.
The aircraft are the first of a new MA60 variant developed by Xi'an in attempt to resurrect sales of the 56- to 60-seat aircraft.
Xi'an senior engineer and sales executive Guzhao Qi says the manufacturer is introducing a new interior and an upgraded propeller to improve the MA60's performance and passenger comfort.
Xi'an also unveiled at Zhuhai a model of its proposed 50-seat WJ advanced turbofan-powered aircraft, which is designed mainly as a crew training platform but also as potential transport.
Harbin Aircraft Industry also announced the sale of 20 Y-12 turboprops to China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation, and is now developing a new variant called the Y-12F, which is due to fly late next year.
BRENDAN SOBIE / ZHUHAI
Source: Flight International
