The Y-10: China's Aviation Regret and Rebirth

The Y-10: China's Aviation Regret and RebirthIn February 1985, a sudden announcement crushed the dreams of Chinese aviation professionals. The Y-10 large passenger aircraft project, which had been successfully developed and was about to undergo test flights, was forced to be terminated due to financial constraints

The Y-10: China's Aviation Regret and Rebirth

In February 1985, a sudden announcement crushed the dreams of Chinese aviation professionals. The Y-10 large passenger aircraft project, which had been successfully developed and was about to undergo test flights, was forced to be terminated due to financial constraints. This news was a blow to the heart of Ma Fengshan, the Y-10's chief designer. Just one step away from taking to the skies, the Y-10 ultimately became a major regret in Chinese aviation history. The termination of the Y-10 also cost China hundreds of billions of yuan, all due to a misjudgement.

China's First Assault on Aviation: The Birth of the Y-10

In the 1970s, China launched its first assault on large jet passenger aircraft. At that time, China had no large passenger aircraft, and even among the countries capable of manufacturing such aircraft globally, the number was small. To fill this gap in China's aviation industry, China decided to develop a large passenger aircraft with independent intellectual property rights, which it named "Y-10."

Ma Fengshan, the chief designer of the Y-10 project, led a passionate team to take on the challenge. Based on his extensive experience in aircraft manufacturing, Ma Fengshan believed that the principles of large aircraft were the same - if foreign countries could do it, China could too.

This research and development took ten years. Ma Fengshan led his team, using the H-6 as inspiration, constantly refining and modifying it, and finally successfully developed the Y-10. In September 1980, the Y-10 made its first successful test flight, making China the fourth country in the world capable of independently researching and manufacturing large aircraft.

Western countries predicted that if the Y-10 could be mass-produced, China would close the gap in aviation technology with Western nations by at least 15 years. For a time, the Y-10 became a beacon of hope for China's aviation industry, and people eagerly anticipated its early commercial operation to change the destiny of Chinese aviation.

The Cost of Misjudgement: The Tragedy of the Y-10

However, just as people were eagerly awaiting news of mass production, an unexpected event occurred. After the successful test flight of the Y-10, it began to fly to different parts of the country for testing to verify its flight performance in various conditions. From 1980 to 1984, the Y-10 appeared in Beijing, Anhui, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Guangzhou, Yunnan and other places, and flew seven times to Lhasa, Tibet. Whether under bright sunshine or heavy snow, the Y-10 withstood the tests, proving itself to be a very successful large passenger aircraft.

However, as everyone waited with anticipation for news of mass production, year after year of silence left Ma Fengshan's team uneasy. In 1985, they finally received the worst news: the Y-10 was completely terminated due to funding issues. The project that had once held the most promise was suddenly buried, the Y-10 production equipment was dismantled, sold off, or simply discarded. Only stacks of blueprints and plans remained to attest to its past glory. Researchers left or were dispersed, and Chief Designer Ma Fengshan refused to give up. He repeatedly applied to higher authorities to continue the Y-10 project, but each time his request was denied.

The Y-10 thus became a part of history, a major regret for Chinese aviation professionals. Even more discouraging, China subsequently incurred a cost of up to trillions of yuan due to the termination of the Y-10 project.

The Long Road of Chinese Aviation: The Rise of the Y-20

After the Y-10 project was halted in 1985, China chose to collaborate with McDonnell Douglas in the United States to compensate for its shortcomings. At that time, McDonnell Douglas was rapidly expanding, even rivaling Boeing. However, due to a design flaw in one of its passenger aircraft, disastrous accidents occurred frequently, severely damaging McDonnell Douglas' reputation, eventually leading to its acquisition by Boeing.

In its collaboration with McDonnell Douglas, China mainly undertook assembly tasks and had almost no access to core technologies. Ultimately, China only produced two aircraft, and the huge investment went down the drain.

In the 21st century, Chinese aviation once again faced new challenges. To achieve its dream of large aircraft, China restarted the independent development of large passenger aircraft and named it the "Y-20."

In 2013, the Y-20 made its maiden flight, marking China's return as one of the few countries in the world capable of independently researching and manufacturing large aircraft. The success of the Y-20 also brought to mind the Y-10, and Ma Fengshan, who devoted his life to the cause of China's aviation industry.

Ma Fengshan: The Pioneer of Chinese Aviation

Ma Fengshan was born during a time of war. He witnessed the brutality of war firsthand and deeply understood the power of technology. He earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and graduated with honors, joining China's nascent aviation industry.

To cultivate national talent, China sent a large number of outstanding students to study in the Soviet Union. In 1959, Ma Fengshan also went to the Soviet Union to study aviation technology. In an era when foreign language education was not well-developed, Ma Fengshan, through his own efforts, mastered Russian ahead of schedule, laying a solid foundation for the study of advanced Soviet technology.

While studying in the Soviet Union, Ma Fengshan was diligent and hardworking, meticulously recording the lectures of Soviet experts. Soviet experts had originally promised to provide relevant materials to Chinese students and advised them not to take notes. However, due to changes in Sino-Soviet relations, Soviet experts ultimately failed to provide materials and even gradually withdrew.

However, Ma Fengshan's notes became key to the development of the H-6. He had recorded the lectures of Soviet experts, as well as the blueprints and flight parameters of the Soviet Tu-16 bomber, laying an important foundation for China's development in the field of aviation.

The Future of Chinese Aviation: Staying True to Our Roots, Forging Ahead

Today, China has made remarkable achievements in the field of aerospace. In 2017, the C919 domestically produced large aircraft successfully made its maiden flight. After several years of development, it can now not only meet domestic demand but also be exported abroad.

Thirty years have passed, and domestically produced large aircraft have finally taken to the skies. Although this day came a little late, we still hope this will be a testament to Mr. Ma Fengshan and all the researchers who dedicated themselves to China's aviation industry. It is their efforts that have made China's current glory possible.

The regret of the Y-10 is a reminder from history and a driving force for China's aviation professionals to continuously move forward. We believe that China's aviation industry will surely ride the waves and continue to climb new heights.

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