NAMC YS-11

YS-11
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force YS-11 (2011)
Role Turboprop Airliner
Manufacturer Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
First flight August 30, 1962
Introduction March 30, 1965, for All Nippon Airways (first passenger flight with Japan Air Commuter in 1965)
Status In limited service
Produced 1962–1974
Number built 182


The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.

Development and design

Wind tunnel model of YS-11.

In the mid-to-late 1950s, the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry identified a requirement for a short-haul airliner to replace Douglas DC-3s flying on Japan's domestic routes, and encouraged companies in Japan's aircraft industry to collaborate to develop and produce the new airliner. A joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Fuji Heavy Industries (now better known as the parent company of automobile manufacturer Subaru), Shin Meiwa, Showa Aircraft Industry Company and Japan Aircraft Industry Company was set up in 1957, being formalised as the Nihon Aeroplane Manufacturing Company (NAMC) in 1959.[1][2]

NAMC designed a low-winged twin-turboprop monoplane seating 60 passengers. Although the aircraft was mainly designed and manufactured in Japan, the engines were built by Rolls-Royce, with the 2,275 kW (3,050 ehp) Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.10/1 being selected for the new aircraft.[3] Electronic equipment, avionics, mechanical and fuselage components were supplied either by Japanese companies or foreign suppliers during the YS-11's production lifetime. The twin-engined YS-11 delivered similar operational performance to the four-engined Vickers Viscount, and had 50% more capacity than the similarly configured Fokker F27 Friendship.

The first prototype made its maiden flight from Nagoya Airport on August 30, 1962, with the second prototype flying on December 28, 1962. It received its Japanese Type certificate on August 25, 1964, with American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification following on September 9, 1965.[3]

182 were produced in total, of which 82 were exported to 15 countries.[4]

The last examples off the production line, mostly delivered to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (i.e. YS-11A-402 EA/EB), were fitted with license-built General Electric T64-IHI-10J engines.

Operational history

The first production YS-11 flew on October 23, 1964 and was delivered on March 30, 1965, with initial airline operations by Toa Airways beginning in April 1965.[3] At first, deliveries were mainly to Japanese airlines, and NAMC developed the YS-11A, with higher gross weight, to make the aircraft more attractive to the North American market, and in particular to meet the requirements of Piedmont Airlines, which ordered ten YS-11A-200s, with an option for an additional ten aircraft.[5] Orders slowed after the needs of the Japanese commuter airlines for which it had been designed were met. This, together with losses growing to $600 million,[6] resulted in production being stopped after completion of 182 aircraft, with the last YS-11 being delivered to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force on May 11, 1973.[7]

The YS-11 was slowly phased out by airlines in Japan due to new directives issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism requiring all commercial aircraft in Japan to be fitted with a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). Aircraft without TCAS were forced to cease operations at the end of 2006. Since equipping a YS-11 with TCAS would have cost ¥100 million (about US$1 million), a refit was deemed economically unsound. Aircraft still in flying condition were sold to foreign companies. On September 30, 2006, Japan Air Commuter Flight 3806 marked the final flight for a YS-11 in Japan's commercial aviation industry.[8] In 2007, the YS-11 was added to the Mechanical Engineering Heritage of Japan as item number 13. As of 2014, 15 are operated by the Japanese military, and two in Mexico.[9]

Variants

YS-11
YS-11-100
Initial production variant. 23,500 kg (51,810 lb) gross weight. 48 built.[5]
YS-11A-200
Increased gross weight (24,500 kg (54,010 lb) passenger airliner.[5]
YS-11A-300
Combi version of YS-11-200, fitted with large cargo door and capable of carrying both passengers and freight.[5]
YS-11A-400
Pure cargo version of -200, used only by Japanese defence forces.[5]
YS-11A-500
Passenger airliner with further increased (25,000 kg (55,110 lb)) gross weight produced from 1970.[10]
YS-11A-600
Combi version of -500.[11]
YS-11E
JASDF "Super YS" powered by T64-IHI-10E.

Customer variants

Operators

An Asian Spirit YS-11 from the Philippines.

As of July 2011, Transair Cargo, Air Link International Airways, Aero JBR, Aerodan and ALCON Servicios Aereos each operate one YS-11 for a total of five aircraft in commercial service.[12]

All Nippon Airways
YS-11 at Baguio City, Philippines

Civil Operators

Former and present operators of the NAMC YS-11 include

Military Operators

 Colombia
 Greece
 Japan

JSDF delivery breakdown:

JASDF
2 YS-11EA for Electronic Warfare
4 YS-11EB for ELINT
3 YS-11FC for Flight Checker
1 YS-11NT for Navigation Trainer
3 YS-11P for Passenger/VIP Transport

JMSDF
2 YS-11M for Freighter
2 YS-11M-A for Freighter
6 YS-11T-A for MPA trainer
[13]

Incidents

There have been over twenty hull loss accidents involving YS-11 aircraft.

Aircraft on display

Specifications (YS-11A-200)

A JAC NAMC YS-11

Data from [46]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Endres 1996, p. 22.
  2. ↑ Taylor 1966, p. 107.
  3. 1 2 3 Endres 1996, p. 23.
  4. ↑ Odagiri, Hiroyuki (1996). Technology and Industrial Development in Japan. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 225. ISBN 0-19-828802-6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Endres 1996, p. 24.
  6. ↑ Anselmo, Joe. "Milestone for the MRJ" Aviation Week & Space Technology, 24 October 2014. Accessed: 25 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Endres 1996, pp. 26–27.
  8. ↑ Farewell to the wings of YS-11 Yomiuri Online (Yomiuri Shimbun)
  9. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (24 October 2014), "Big in Japan: Tokyo’s Top 10 aircraft projects", Flightglobal (Reed Business Information)
  10. ↑ Endres 1996, pp. 24, 26.
  11. ↑ Endres 1996, p. 26.
  12. ↑ Flight International 2011 World Airliner Census, p.22; retrieved 31 August 2011
  13. ↑ Kawasaki XP-1 As YS-11 Replacement Airliners.net, military aviation and space forum
  14. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  15. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  16. ↑ "KAL기피랍사건", Doosan Encyclopedia, 2010, retrieved 2010-07-07
  17. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  18. ↑ Kim Tae Hong, "141 Days of Hell, What about 40 Years?" NK Daily (7 August 2009)
  19. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  20. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  21. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  22. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  23. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  24. ↑ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "O Samurai desaparecido". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 274–278. ISBN 978-85-7430-760-2.
  25. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  26. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  27. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  28. ↑ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Dia do aviador". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 291–293. ISBN 978-85-7430-760-2.
  29. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  30. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  31. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  32. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  33. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  34. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  35. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  36. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  37. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  38. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  39. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  40. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  41. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  42. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  43. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  44. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  45. ↑ "RECENT ACCIDENTS / INCIDENTS WORLDWIDE September 2009". Jacdec. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  46. ↑ Green, William, The Observers Book of Aircraft, Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd, 1970. ISBN 0-7232-0087-4

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