China's mil transport makes first flight
Neelam Mathews Jan 26,2013 China's large 4-engined military transport- Y-20- developed by 603 Institute, XAC and SAC, smaller than the C-17 and based on some IL-76MD technology, made its first flight on Jan 26. Assistance was also sought from Antonov Design Bureau in 2008. Its max payload was expected to be 50~66t and max TO weight 180~200t. It is capable of taking off from relatively short and unpaved runways, like the C-17. It is unclear whether the aircraft will have an IFR probe installed. The Y-20 appears shorter than Il-76MD , bearing some resemblance to Japanese C-2 transport.