Y-12 Yunshuji-12 - Program
The Y-12 is a turboprop powered development and has been built in greater numbers than the Y-11. Work on a turboprop powered Y-11 began in the early 1980s, and a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A powered and enlarged cabin Y-12 prototype (previously the Y-11T) flew for the first time on August 16 1984. Current production is of the Y-12-II, while the further improved Y-12-IV was granted US certification in March 1995.
In 1979, the Ministry of Geology and Mines was dissatisfied with the Y-11 which had been successfully developed by Hafei at that time, expressing that the carrying capacity was too small, and hoped to design a commercial carrying capacity of 5 tons, with 17 to 19 passengers, serving for geological exploration flights. Turboprop regional aircraft. However, due to institutional constraints and mutual restraints, the aviation department refused to allocate funds for the aviation project of the Ministry of Geology, so the Ministry of Geology was forced to provide 1 million yuan of start-up funds. Since the aviation department has the power to review and approve new projects, Hafei was unable to approve the project, so in the early 1980s, the Yun-12 was launched in the name of Yun-11T.
After two years and more than 1,100 flight hours, the prototype was finalized. During this period, flight test experts and test pilots from Lockheed Aircraft Company of the United States participated in the test flight.
In 1985, the Yun-12 aircraft obtained the first civil aircraft type certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and the first production license issued by the bureau the following year. On November 14, 1986, 6 Y-12 aircraft were successfully exported to Sri Lanka, setting a precedent for the export of Chinese civil aircraft.
In 1987, the Y-12 aircraft began to apply for the British CAA (British Civil Aviation Authority) airworthiness certificate . The British Civil Aviation Administration conducted a two-year review and flight test of the Y-12 aircraft, and issued a CAA type certificate to the Y-12 on June 20, 1990. This is the first time that a Chinese civil aircraft has received a type certificate issued by an international authoritative airworthiness agency, indicating that the airworthiness of the Y-12 aircraft has reached the current international standard.
On March 26, 1995, the "Yun-12" IV aircraft obtained the FAA type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States. At the peak of the Y-12 (before June 2000), a total of 102 Y-12 aircraft were exported to 18 countries in Africa, Australia, South America, Asia and North America.
The Y-12 obtained airworthiness certificates in a dozen countries including China, the U.S., Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. From 1993 through 2001, China had exported 24 Y-12 aircraft to six African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Mauritania and Eritrea. As of 2001 China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) had received orders for 128 such aircraft from 18 countries including the Sudan, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Cuba and Bolivia.
The Marine Surveillance Team of the State Oceanic Administration of China purchased a total of three Y-12 Chinese marine surveillance aircraft in 1987 and October 2003, respectively, and carried out corresponding system integration, bringing China's ocean management to a new level. The Yun-12 marine surveillance aircraft has given full play to its advantages such as flexibility, rapid response, and wide coverage, and has played an important role in marine management, and has become an important part of China's marine law enforcement and surveillance forces. This purchase is the second time that the State Oceanic Administration Marine Supervision Team purchased the Y-12 aircraft produced by Hafei, and the first time that it purchased the Z-9 helicopter.
In addition to domestic users, as of 2000, hundreds of Y-12 aircraft have been sold to 18 countries around the world, and it is the model with the highest commercial value among domestic civil aircraft. Including 12 Y-12 aircrafts exported to Kenya in 2000, other customers include Peru, Fiji and other 18 countries and regions.
On December 20, 1997, China Aviation Technology Corporation/Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Company and Canadian Aerospace Panda Company signed a contract for exporting 50 Y-12IVs in Burlington. On March 31, 1998, Canada Panda Corporation and China Aviation Technology Corporation/Hafei Corporation signed a contract in Beijing to purchase 200 Y-12IV aircraft within 10 years. According to the agreement, Panda Company purchased 200 "green planes" (that is, empty Y-12s without additional airborne equipment) from Hafei Company, assembled them in Canada, and sold them in the name of Panda Company.
In April 2005, two Y-12IVs manufactured and produced by Harbin Aviation Industry Group were officially delivered to Fiji National Airlines.
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