China has begun mass production of the HY100 unmanned biplane, created on the basis of the Y-5 light multi-purpose transport aircraft (a copy of the Soviet An-2). The UAVs will be used for cargo transportation and environmental monitoring.
HY100 biplane specifications:
- Wingspan — over 18 m
- Flight range — 1800 km
- Flight duration — 10.6 hours
- Takeoff weight — 5.25 tons
USSR Helped Chinese Aircraft Manufacturers
China received a license and technical documentation for the An-2 in October 1956. The order for production was given to factory No. 320 in Nanchang (now Nanhang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation).
In January 1956, Soviet engineers arrived at the enterprise. They helped their Chinese colleagues master almost 7,000 technological processes for creating the An-2.
Mass production of the An-2 under the name Y-5 began in March 1958. In the same year, 229 agricultural aircraft were produced in Nanchang. Later, a passenger version of the Y-5 appeared.
About the An-2 Aircraft
The An-2 (also known as "Annushka", "Kukuruznik") is a Soviet light multi-purpose aircraft created in 1947 at OKB-153. The aircraft was supplied to 26 countries around the world.
An-2 specifications:
- Length — 4.1 m
- Upper wing span — 18.17 m
- Lower wing span — 14.23 m
- Empty weight — up to 3690 kg
- Engine — ASH-62IR
- Engine power — 1000 hp
- Propeller — AV-2
- Maximum speed — 258 km/h
- Practical ceiling of altitude — 4200 m
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