The latest development is the Y-12F, which is almost a new design with many improvements: new wings, landing gear, fuselage, more powerful engines, and extended payload and range. The Y-12F made its maiden flight on December 29, 2010,[3] received
CAAC type certification on December 10, 2015,
FAA type certification on February 22, 2016,[4] and
EASA type certification on July 13, 2023.[5] In 2015,
Kenmore Air announced that they would begin development of floats for the Y-12 for FAA certification.[6] The Y-12 completed the
FAA evaluation flight tests for its automatic flight control system on June 30, 2018, with its performance meeting the requirements, said AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Company Ltd (AVIC HAFEI).[7]
Y-12 (I): Twin-engined STOL utility transport aircraft, powered by two 500-shp (373-kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-11 turboprop engines. Prototype version.
Y-12 (II): Fitted with more powerful PT6A-27 engines.
Y-12 (III): Planned version to be fitted with
WJ-9 turboprop. Evolved to Y-12C because of IV's success when WJ-9 development was completed.
Y-12 (IV): Improved version. Revised wingtips (span increased to 19.2 m (63 ft)) and increased takeoff weight. 19 passenger seats. This version is the first aircraft in the series certified by the FAA in 1995.[8]
Y-12C: Basically a (IV) version with WJ-9 turboprop, used by PLAAF for aerial survey.
Y-12D: Domestically deployed military version with upgraded engines driving four-bladed propellers, used by PLA Airborne Corps for parachute training.
Y-12E: Variant with 18 passenger seats. PT6A-135A engines of equal horsepower but increased torque driving four-bladed propellers. This version was certified by the FAA in 2006.[9]
Y-12F: The latest development with almost everything redesigned: wider fuselage, new wings, retractable landing gear and more powerful PT6A-65B engines.[10] The Y-12F has higher cruise speed, longer range and can accommodate 19 passengers or 3x LD3 containers.[11] Design started in April 2005 and the maiden flight was on 29 December 2010.[12]CAAC type certification was received on 10 December 2015 and
FAA certification on 22 February 2016.[4] The Y-12F passed flight tests for its automatic flight control system by the
FAA on 30 June 2018.[7] It was demonstrated during the 2012
Zhuhai Airshow.
Y-12G: Proposed cargo version of Y-12F.
Turbo Panda: Export name for (II) version, marketed by England and Japanese companies. No real order due to airworthiness certification.
Twin Panda: Originally (II) version for export. Later a modified Y-12 (IV) powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engines and fitted with uprated undercarriage, upgraded avionics and interior. Thirty-five orders reportedly received by 2000 but production not proceeded with.
On 13 December 1993, a
Lao Aviation (now Lao Airlines) Y-12-II, registration RDPL-34117, clipped trees in fog and crashed at
Phonsavan,
Laos, killing all 18 on board.[39]
On 4 April 1995, a
TANS Y-12-II, registration 333/OB-1498, crashed shortly after
takeoff from
Iquitos Airport,
Peru, killing all three on board.
On 21 June 1996, a
China Flying Dragon Aviation Y-12-II, registration B-3822, crashed into a 100 m (330 ft) mountain near
Changhai Airport after the crew began the
final approach too early and deviated from the intended course, killing two of 12 on board.[40]
On 26 May 1998, a MIAT Mongolian Airlines Y-12-II, registration JU-1017,
crashed into a 10,800 ft (3,300 m) mountain near
Galt,
Mongolia, en route to
Tosontsengel due to heavy icing, wing
de-ice system fault and overloading, killing all 28 on board; this crash is the worst ever accident involving the Y-12.
On 19 October 2000,
Lao Aviation Flight 703 crashed in a mountainous area in bad weather while on approach to
Sam Neua, killing eight of 15 passengers; both pilots survived.[43]
On 15 June 2008, a China Flying Dragon Aviation Y-12-II, registration B-3841, struck a small hill during a survey flight for a new aluminum mine, killing three of four on board.[46]
On 12 July 2012, a Y-12-II of the
Mauritanian Air Force crashed while transporting gold, killing all 7 occupants.[47]
On 12 May 2014, a Y-12-II of the Kenyan Air Force crashed in
El Wak, Kenya. The airplane operated on a flight from
Mandera to
Nairobi with stops at
El Wak and
Garissa. Preliminary information suggests that one pilot was killed and the remaining eleven occupants were injured.[48]
On 26 August 2018, a Y-12e of the
Colombian Air Force was damaged in flight as it encountered severe turbulence. The pilot made an emergency landing at
Florencia. The aircraft was not repaired, and was scrapped in situ. [49]
On 3 January 2020, a Y-12-II of the Sri Lankan Air Force crashed to
Haputale,
Sri Lanka, while on aerial observations, killing all 4 airmen.[50]
On 4 August 2020, a Y-12-II of the Kenyan Air Force resupplying
AMISOM crashed after taking off from
Dhobley Airstrip in
Somalia. All 10 occupants survived. The aircraft was seriously damaged.[51]
Specifications (Y-12 (II))
Data fromBrassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000,[52] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2000–01[53]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 17 max / 1,700 kg (3,748 lb) max payload
Propellers: 3-bladed
Hartzell HC-B3TN-3B/T10173B-3, 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in) diameter constant-speed fully-feathering reversible-pitch propellers (4 and 5 bladed propellers used on some models)
Performance
Maximum speed: 328 km/h (204 mph, 177 kn) VMO (maximum operating speed) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Cruise speed: 292 km/h (181 mph, 158 kn) (max) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
250 km/h (160 mph; 130 kn) (economical) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Range: 1,340 km (830 mi, 720 nmi) at econ cruise, 45 min reserves at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
^霍尼韦尔航空航天 (8 January 2016).
"【纪录】运-12F背后的霍尼韦尔力量". CARNOC.com (民航资源网) (in Chinese). Archived from
the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
^Jackson, Paul, ed. (2000). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2000–01 (91st ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. pp. 71–72.
ISBN978-0710620118.
Bibliography
Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 182, No. 5321, 11–17 December 2012, pp. 40–64.
ISSN0015-3710.
Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 190, No. 5566, 6–12 December 2016, pp. 22–53.
ISSN0015-3710.