Unmanned " кукурузник" with Soviet roots: China launches production of HY100 biplane

China has begun mass production of the HY100 unmanned biplane, based on 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 production order was received by the No. 320 plant 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

An-2 (also known as "Annushka", " кукурузник") 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 height — 4200 m

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