MA600 | |
---|---|
Xian MA600 | |
Role | Turboprop airliner |
Manufacturer | Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China |
First flight | September 2008 |
Introduction | 2010 |
Primary user | China |
Number built | 4 |
Developed from | Xian Y-7 and Xian MA60 |
The Xian MA600 (MA for 新舟, "Modern Ark") is an improved version of the Xian MA60 manufactured by the Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation rolled out its first MA600 turboprop on the 29 June 2008. MA600 made its maiden flight in September 2008. The aircraft is equipped with new avionics, improved passenger cabin and engines with increased thrust when compared to MA60.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J turboprop engines, it has a 60-passenger capacity.
As of October 2008, Xi'an has received 136 orders from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Liu Jieyin, President of Okay Airways is quoted as saying that his company had purchased the new model.
Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co., manufacturer of the MA600, noted that the successful test flight is "an important milestone" in Chinese domestic aircraft production. MD Meng Xiangkai revealed that the aircraft is expected to obtain its airworthiness certificate and enter service in the second half of 2009, with the first delivery to the Civil Aviation Flight University of China in Sichuan Province. Batch delivery will start in 2010.
The aircraft will be equipped with the Becker-Communications "DVCS6100 Digital Intercom System,Cabin Intercommunication and Passenger Address". The cockpit is equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite.
Data from Modern Ark
General characteristics
Performance
MA700 is the development of MA600, which is a stretched version of MA600 with up to 70 seats. Maiden flight is scheduled in 2015, state certification is scheduled two years later in 2017, and the commercial service is scheduled to begin in 2018. MA700 is designed to have an increase of fuel efficiency of 20% and the reduction of operating cost of 10% in comparison to MA600, despite being larger than MA600.