PLA's Y-20 cargo planes deliver disaster relief supplies to Tonga in record-breaking mission

xizhimen

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PLA's Y-20 cargo planes deliver disaster relief supplies to Tonga in record-breaking mission flying over 10,000 kilometers

Published: Jan 28, 2022 11:42 AM

A Y-20 large transport aircraft attached to an aviation division under the PLA Western Theater Command flies at a predetermined altitude during a flight training mission on January 4, 2021. (eng.chianmil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Shu)

A Y-20 large transport aircraft attached to an aviation division under the PLA Western Theater Command flies at a predetermined altitude during a flight training mission on January 4, 2021. (eng.chianmil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Shu)

Two Y-20 large transport aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force carrying much-needed disaster relief supplies arrived in Tonga on Friday after traveling a record-breaking distance of more than 10,000 kilometers and withstanding challenges including the presence of volcanic ash.

After taking off from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province on Thursday, the two aircraft arrived in Nuku'alofa, capital of Tonga on Friday after traveling more than 10,000 kilometers, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Friday.

Food, fresh water, water purifiers and tents were all included in the supplies that weighed a total of 33 tons, CCTV reported.

It was the longest distance the Y-20 has traveled in an overseas mission known to the public, and it is probably also one of the most challenging missions the Y-20 has experienced, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Friday.

While a single Y-20 is said to be able to carry more than 60 tons of cargo, the reason why the two Y-20s only carried 33 tons of supplies is because the cargo amount can affect the aircraft's total flying range, Song said, noting that the aircraft must have made stopovers during the flight to reach the long distance of 10,000 kilometers.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times that the Y-20 can also carry more fuel when loaded with less cargo.

The mission displays that the Y-20 is fully capable of intercontinental flight and has the ability to carry out complicated emergency transport missions as a long-range strategic transport aircraft, Fu said.

It is also the first time known to the public that the Y-20 has flown to the South Pacific, and it shows the well-preparedness of the flight crews and capabilities of the advanced navigation systems equipped on the aircraft, Fu said.

When announcing the mission on Wednesday, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson from the Ministry of National Defense, said that the Chinese military would need to overcome challenges including volcanic ash.

Volcanic ash is very threatening to aircraft, as it has the potential to damage the engines and hinder visibility, so the Y-20s must have prepared many contingency plans to deal with all kinds of emergencies, experts said.

After completing the transport mission, the Y-20s are scheduled to return immediately, CCTV reported.

The PLA Navy will on Monday send vessels and deliver a second batch of supplies, which will include larger items, like mobile plank houses, tractors, generators and water pumps, Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a routine press conference on Wednesday.

The use of military equipment was agreed to by both sides, as airline services are suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Zhao.

 
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Jackdaws

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Hope it's actual aid and not loan at exorbitant rates like a loan shark.


Chinese debt is already a concern in Tonga.
 

Suehtam

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What trolling. I merely provided a link about Tonga and its Chinese debt trap.
Don't worry, we know you are very concerned about the people of Tonga, knowing this, the loans were at low interest rates, which helped to rebuild what pro-democracy protesters destroyed much of downtown Nuku'alofa in 2006. Not only that, China helped build an $11 million public office building as a gift. The debt was even extended for a period of five years due to the impossibility of payment.
 

Jackdaws

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Don't worry, we know you are very concerned about the people of Tonga, knowing this, the loans were at low interest rates, which helped to rebuild what pro-democracy protesters destroyed much of downtown Nuku'alofa in 2006. Not only that, China helped build an $11 million public office building as a gift. The debt was even extended for a period of five years due to the impossibility of payment.
Was it impossible to pay because it was a Chinese debt trap in the first place?
 

xizhimen

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After traveling over 10,000 kilometers, Y-20 arrived in Tonga for aid mission, a truly well tested strategic heavy transport aircraft.

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xizhimen

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China's biggest planes enter Afghanistan ! The Y-20 military cargo plane made break-through again​


 

Jagdflieger

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Hmm.. I love this aircraft. I am aware that PLAF send 6 of them to Serbia in April this year.

China’s state-owned Global Times reported that the Y-20 large transport aircraft is expected to switch to domestically developed engines with a high bypass ratio.
Military experts have claimed that compared with the Russian D-30 engine currently used on the Y-20, the Chinese engine is much larger in diameter and can provide more powerful thrust, uses less fuel, and enables the plane to take off and land in shorter runways.

China’s development of a new aerial refueler, known as the Y-20-U, would significantly boost the PLA Air Force’s capability to carry out long-range missions

Any idea as to how many are estimated to be in service by now?
 

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