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NAMC YS-11

The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC), a Japanese consortium. It was the only post-war airliner to be wholly designed and manufactured in Japan until the development of the ultimately cancelled Mitsubishi SpaceJet during the 2010s, roughly 50 years later.

Development and design
Origins During the mid-to-late 1950s, the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) 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 a domestic airliner to meet this need. Towards this purpose, in May 1957, the Commercial Transport Design Research Association was established and the availability of government subsidies guaranteed. From the government's viewpoint, the development of such an airliner was viewed as a key initiative towards the post-war revival of the nation's aircraft companies, which came in addition to the serious ambition to become a major international competitor in the global airliner business. The ownership of NAMC was initially divided between the Japanese government, which held 54% of the shares, while the constituent aircraft manufacturers held an 18% stake and several components/materials suppliers owned 11%; the remaining shares were small stakes belonging to various banks, insurance companies, and stock firms who chose to invest in the programme. However, NAMC was essentially a "paper company", being reliant upon both personnel and infrastructure provided by its constituent manufacturers. NAMC designed a low-winged twin-turboprop-engined monoplane, capable of seating up to 60 passengers, dubbed the YS-11. Amongst the design team was Jiro Horikoshi, who had previously been the designer of the famed wartime Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. Another prominent engineer on the project was Teruo Tojo, the second son of Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who later became chairman of Mitsubishi Motors. Furthermore, according to author Stephen C Mercado, due to the lack of available domestic technology at the time, several of the key aircraft systems, such as cabin pressurization, were copied from foreign sources; such information was gleaned from a combination of Japanese airlines, trading companies and diplomats. There was also an acute lack of safety during sideways maneuvers; the wake of the propeller produced abnormal forces that inclined the aircraft to the right; all of the rudders were ineffective; and the maneuverability was worst of all. These problems produced a tailspin during the flight test, and were the direct cause of a crash. This was known as the “three rudder problem.” In one prestigious early flight of the type, All Nippon Airways used a YS-11 to carry the Olympic torch in the run-up to the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. It received its Japanese Type certificate on 25 August 1964, while American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification followed on 9 September 1965. Due to the organisation of the programme, the aircraft manufacturers themselves did not have any of this debt apportioned to themselves, NAMC being held solely responsible; Mercado criticised this approach as it meant there was no incentive for the individual companies to make cost savings while simultaneously guarantee profit to them on every plane produced. The end of the YS-11 programme was precipitated by the 1971 Smithsonian Agreement, which led to an appreciation in the value of the Japanese yen and the resulting impact upon the nation's economy. ==Operational history==
Operational history
On 23 October 1964, the first production YS-11 conducted its first flight; it was delivered to its customer on 30 March 1965. During April 1965, initial airline operations commenced with launch customer Toa Airways. During October 1967, Piedmont Airlines ordered a batch of ten YS-11A-200s along with an option for an additional ten aircraft for $22.5 million. The company was so impressed by its performance, it both exercised the option for ten aircraft and purchased an additional YS-11, operating a combined fleet of 21 YS-11s by mid-1970. Piedmont would be the type's largest international operator; ultimately, no other airline would place another order of this scale. this is to say nothing of the unforeseen loss due to a less favorable currency exchange that resulted after the American government switched to a floating exchange rate in 1971. When Jenks Caldwell of Charlotte Aircraft Corporation, a sales dealer of used aircraft and aviation parts headquartered in North Carolina, expressed a strong desire to become a sales agent in the United States through a modification of YS-11A, NAMC signed an exclusive agency contract with his company to manage sales for North America, Latin America and Spain. However, Charlotte Aircraft did not actually carry out the promised activities, and when a sales agreement with Piedmont Airlines was concluded with Mitsui, Charlotte Aircraft demanded damages under their status as exclusive dealer, and Piedmont Airlines and Cruzeiro do Sul handed over 33 used aircraft traded in for YS-11 to Charlotte Aircraft; Japan's Board of Audit complained these actions were unfair. In 2007, the YS-11 was added to the Mechanical Engineering Heritage of Japan as item number 13. , fifteen were operated by the Japanese military, and two in Mexico. , only eight remained in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which were being used for flight checks and other ancillary purposes. , the Japan Air Self-Defense Force retired the YS-11 after 57 years of service. ==Variants==
Variants
; YS-11 ; YS-11-100 :Initial production variant. 23,500 kg (51,810 lb) gross weight. 48 built. ; YS-11A-600 :Combi version of -500. ; YS-11E :JASDF "Super YS" powered by T64-IHI-10J. Customer variants • YS-11-101: TOA Domestic Airlines • YS-11-102: All Nippon Airways • YS-11-103: Japan Air Self Defense Force • YS-11-104: Japan Civil Aviation Bureau • YS-11-105: Japan Air Self Defense Force • YS-11-106: Japan Domestic Airlines • YS-11-107: Filipinas Orient Airways • YS-11-108: Japan Domestic Airlines • YS-11-109: Japan Domestic Airlines • YS-11-110: Japan Civil Aviation Bureau • YS-11-111: All Nippon Airways • YS-11-113: Japan Maritime Self Defense Force • YS-11-114: TOA Airways • YS-11-115: Aeronautic College • YS-11-116: Filipinas Orient Airways • YS-11-117: Hawaiian Airlines • YS-11-118: Japan Civil Aviation Bureau • YS-11-120: LANSA • YS-11-121: Filipinas Orient Airways • YS-11-124: Japan Domestic Airlines • YS-11-125: Cruzeiro do Sul • YS-11-128: Austral (later Austral Líneas Aéreas) • YS-11-129: TOA Airways • YS-11A-201: NAMC • YS-11A-202: Cruzeiro do Sul • YS-11A-205: Piedmont Airlines • YS-11A-206: Japan Maritime Self Defense Force • YS-11A-207: Japan Maritime Safety Agency • YS-11A-208: All Nippon Airways • YS-11A-209: Southwest Air Lines • YS-11A-211: VASP • YS-11A-212: VASP • YS-11A-213: All Nippon Airways • YS-11A-214: Southwest Air Lines • YS-11A-217: Japan Domestic Airlines • YS-11A-218: Japan Air Self Defense Force • YS-11A-219: China Airlines • YS-11A-220: Olympic Airways • YS-11A-222: TOA Airways • YS-11A-223: All Nippon Airways • YS-11A-227: Japan Domestic Airlines / TOA Airways • YS-11A-301: Korean Air Lines • YS-11A-305: Japan Air Self Defense Force • YS-11A-306: Transair • YS-11A-307: Japan Domestic Airlines • YS-11A-309: Aerotransportes Litoral Argentino (later Austral Líneas Aéreas) • YS-11A-310: Korean Air Lines • YS-11A-313: TOA Airways • YS-11A-314: Air Afrique • YS-11A-321: Air Gabon • YS-11A-402: Japan Air Self Defense Force • YS-11A-404: Japan Maritime Self Defense Force • YS-11A-500: Piedmont Airlines • YS-11A-523: Philippine Civil Aeronautics Administration • YS-11A-621: Trans Gabon • YS-11A-623: Pelita Air Service • YS-11A-624: Japan Maritime Self Defense Force • YS-11A-626: Reeve Aleutian Airways ==Operators==
Operators
YS-11 in 1971 YS-11A at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia, with the United States Capitol in the background in 1972 at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in 1972 NAMC YS-11A-659 at Honolulu International Airport in 1982 YS-11 in 1999 YS-11A-200 in 2005 , Baguio City, Philippines in 2006 YS-11 in the Philippines in 2007 Civil operators Former and present operators of the NAMC YS-11 include: '''''' • Aerolíneas ArgentinasAerotransportes Litoral ArgentinoAustral Líneas Aéreas '''''' • Air Aruba '''''' • Cruzeiro do SulVASP '''''' • BIMP - EAGA Air Alliance '''''' • NorcanairTransair Ltd '''''' • Societe Generale d'Alimentation '''''' • Pyramid Airlines '''''' • Trans Gabon AirlinesGabon ExpressGabon Express Cargo '''''' • Gambia AW '''''' • Olympic Airways '''''' • Bouraq Indonesia AirlinesPelita Air ServiceMandala AirlinesMerpati Nusantara Airlines '''''' • Air Afrique '''''' • Air NipponAll Nippon AirwaysJapan Air LinesJapan Air SystemJapan Domestic AirlinesJapan TransOcean AirToa AirwaysToa Domestic AirlinesNihon Kinkyori AirlinesSouthwest Air Lines Japan '''''' • AerolitoralAerodan CargoGacela Air CargoAeroSierraALCON Servicios Aereos '''''' • Líneas Aéreas Nacionales S.A. '''''' • Philippine AirlinesAir PhilippinesAir Link International AirwaysAirlink International Aviation College2GOAboitiz AirAsian SpiritAero Majestic AirwaysSouth Phoenix Airways '''''' • Korean AirKorean Air Cargo '''''' • China Airlines '''''' • Air Star Zanzibar '''''' • Air Caribbean '''''' • Phuket AirAir Phoenix '''''' • Global Air Cargo NAMC YS-11 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. '''''' • American EagleContinental ExpressPiedmont AirlinesSimmons AirlinesReeve Aleutian AirwaysProvincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA) • Pinehurst AirlinesMPACMidwest Air Charter/Airborne ExpressFar West AirlinesFort Worth AirlinesHawaiian AirlinesPacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) - operated as training aircraft • Mid Pacific AirTauk ToursUnited States Postal Service Military operators ; • Japan Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB Former military operators (1993) ;'''''' • Greek Air Force – 6 ex-Olympic Airways YS-11A aircraft were supplied in 1981. ; • Japan Air Self-Defense Force401st Tactical Airlift Squadron (1969–1989) • 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron (1968–2001) • 403rd Tactical Airlift Squadron YS-11P (1978–2017) • Flight Check Squadron YS-11FC (–2021) • Electronic Warfare Squadron YS-11EA • Electronic Intelligence Squadron YS-11EB • Japan Maritime Self-Defense ForceAir Transport Squadron 61 YS-11M/M-A (1971–2014) • Japan Coast Guard (1969–2011) 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 ; • Philippine Air Force - One YS-11 used as presidential transport. ==Accidents and incidents==
Accidents and incidents
There have been over twenty hull loss accidents involving YS-11 aircraft. • 13 November 1966, All Nippon Airways Flight 533 crashed into the sea near Matsuyama, Japan with the loss of all five crew and 45 passengers. • 20 October 1969, All Nippon Airways Flight 104 overran the runway at Miyazaki Airport, Japan. All four crew and 49 passengers survived. • 11 December 1969, a Korean Air flight from Gangneung to Seoul was hijacked by a North Korean agent and flown to Sǒndǒk Airfield near Wonsan. The aircraft was damaged on landing and written off. The aircraft, its crew, and seven passengers are still held in North Korean territory. • 12 August 1970, China Airlines Flight 206 crashed into Yuan Mountain on approach to Taipei, Taiwan. Two crew and 12 passengers were killed. • 1 April 1971, a Merpati Nusantara Airlines YS-11 made a wheels-up landing at Kemayoran Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia while on a training flight. • 3 July 1971, Toa Domestic Airlines Flight 63 flew into Yokotsu Mountain while on approach to Hakodate Airport, Japan. All four crew and 64 passengers were killed, the worst loss of life in an accident involving the YS-11. • 7 November 1971, A VASP YS-11 was destroyed by fire after a candle was lit inside when the aircraft was being guarded overnight after being bogged down at Aragarças Airport in Aragarças, Brazil. Both guards were killed. • 12 April 1972, a VASP flight between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro crashed north of Rio de Janeiro. All four crew and 21 passengers were killed. • 18 October 1972, a Cruzeiro do Sul YS-11 overshot the runway at Congonhas Airport, São Paulo and was damaged beyond repair. • 21 October 1972, Olympic Airways Flight 506 en route from Corfu (Kerkyra) to Athens crashed into the sea in Voula whilst attempting an approach to Ellinikon International Airport, Athens, in a heavy storm. One crew member (the co-pilot) and 36 passengers were killed, while the captain, the two stewardesses and 16 passengers survived. • 23 October 1973, a VASP YS-11 overran the runway at Santos Dumont Airport, Rio de Janeiro after a rejected take-off and ended up in Guanabara Bay. Eight passengers were killed. • 5 March 1974, a Pacific Southwest Airlines YS-11 crash landed in the desert east of Borrego Springs, California while on a training flight. Aircraft was written off. • 6 November 1974, a Reeve Aleutian Airways YS-11 was written off in a hangar fire at Anchorage, Alaska. • 28 May 1975, TOA Domestic Airlines Flight 621 was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Osaka International Airport when a tyre burst and the aircraft departed the runway. • 23 November 1976, Olympic Airways Flight 830 flew into Mount Metaxas near the village of Servia in Kozani, Greece, in low clouds and almost zero visibility. All four crew and 46 passengers were killed. • 29 April 1977, a Cruzeiro YS-11 departed the runway on landing at Ministro Victor Konder International Airport, Navegantes, Brazil. • 17 July 1977, a Philippine Airlines YS-11 ditched on approach to Mactan–Cebu International Airport after an engine failure. • 11 March 1983, Nihon Kinkyori Airlines Flight 497 undershot the runway at Nakashibetsu Airport, Japan. • 13 January 1987, a Mid Pacific Air YS-11 force landed in a field at Remington, Indiana after both engines were mismanaged. • 10 January 1988, TOA Domestic Airlines Flight 670 overran the runway at Miho-Yonago Airport, Yonago, Japan after a rejected take-off and ended up in the sea. Aircraft had not been de-iced prior to take-off. • 15 March 1989, a Mid Pacific Air YS-11 undershot the runway at Purdue University Airport, Lafayette, Indiana due to loss of pitch control caused by icing on the tail. The aircraft was on a positioning flight, both crew members were killed. • 6 March 1992, an Airborne Express YS-11 made a wheels-up landing at Airborne Airpark, Wilmington, Ohio while on a training flight due to pilot error. • 24 June 1996, an Air Philippines YS-11 struck a ground power unit while taxiing at Naga Airport, Naga City. Aircraft was destroyed in the subsequent fire. • 16 February 2000, Air Nippon Flight 354 departed the runway at Okadama Airport, Sapporo, Japan and collided with a bank of snow. • 3 November 2001, a YS-11 being prepared for delivery to an airline in Burundi was destroyed by a fire caused by a stray firework at London Southend Airport. • 11 September 2005, Phuket Airlines Flight 326 skids off the runway at Mae Sot Airport, Thailand. • 2 January 2008, Asian Spirit Flight 321 suffered an undercarriage collapse on landing at Masbate Airport, Philippines. • 28 September 2009, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force YS-11M-A serial number 9044 overran the runway upon landing at Ozuki Air Field and was substantially damaged. ==Aircraft on display==
Aircraft on display
;Brazil • 2080 – YS-11A-200 on static display as a restaurant in Tijucas, Santa Catarina. ;Greece • 2137 (Hellenic Air Force) - YS-11A-220 at the Elefsis Heritage Park ;Japan • JA8611 – YS-11 prototype at the Museum of Aeronautical Science in Narita, Chiba. • JA8731 - YS-11A-213 at the Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum. • JA8732 – YS-11A-213 at the Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park in Tokorozawa, Saitama. • JA8733 - YS-11A-213 at Saga Airport • JA8734 – YS-11A-500R at Tajima Airport in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture. • JA8743 - YS-11A-213 at Sanuki Kodomono Kuni amusement park near Takamatsu Airport. • JA8766 - YS-11A-227 at Misawa Aviation & Science Museum • JA8809 - YS-11A-202 at the Michinoku Traditional Wooden Boat Museum. • 52-1152 (JASDF) at the Aichi Museum of Flight in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture. • JA8610 The first mass-produced YS-11 has been in storage at Haneda Airport since 1999, where it has been maintained and kept airworthy by the National Museum of Nature and Science and is occasionally available for public viewing. ;Thailand • HS-APA YS-11A-227 at Jesada Technik Museum • HS-KCU YS-11A-213 at Nong Khor ;United States • P4-KFD – YS-11-120 on static display at the Grissom Air Museum near Peru, Indiana. ==Specifications (YS-11A-200)==
In popular culture
In railroad journals, YS-11 was linked to the 0 Series Shinkansen, another Japanese-made form of transportation that debuted around the time of the 1964 Olympics. Additionally, the Shinkansen and the YS-11 were both developed by individuals who were involved with the creation of military aircraft (this was to be expected with an airplane like the YS-11, but men like Migi Tadanao and Matsudaira Tadashi were also involved with the Shinkansen). ==See also==
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