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Y-5
Light Transport
The
Y-5 light transport is a Chinese copy of the Antonov An-2 'Colt',
which was initially developed as an agricultural aircraft and first
flew in August 1947. China began producing the An-2 aircraft in
1957, with total more than 1,000 aircraft built. Modified variants
include Y-5B, which features wingtip flaps to improve aerodynamic
performance and updated avionics, and Qing-5 amphibian aircraft.
With
few hundred aircraft still in service today, the Y-5 is widely used
for various missions, ranging from transport, to paratrooper training,
to pilot training, to airborne air-to-land supply. Due to the all-wooden
structure of this biplane, the Y-5 is difficult to be detected by
modern air warning radar, and therefore becomes a low-tech 'stealthy'
aircraft, which is ideal for airborne insertion of special force
commandos.
The
crew consists of two pilots and the aircraft can accommodate eight
passengers. The Y-5 is night capable but the cockpit is not adapted
for NVG use.
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Air
Force
