YS-11A-300

The YS‑11A‑300 is a turboprop airliner developed by Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC) in the early 1970s as the final, most advanced variant of the YS‑11 family. The original YS‑11, Japan’s first post‑war transport aircraft, entered service in 1965, but market pressure and the need for greater performance led NAMC to redesign the type with more powerful engines, a stretched fuselage and upgraded avionics. The A‑300 version incorporated two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A‑65AR turboprops, delivering 1,600 shaft horsepower each, which raised cruise speed to about 530 km/h and extended range to roughly 2,200 km. Structural enhancements included a longer wing with increased span and reinforced landing gear, allowing a maximum take‑off weight of 27 t and seating for up to 64 passengers in a high‑density configuration. Modernized flight‑deck instrumentation, autopilot and navigation systems met ICAO standards of the era, making the aircraft suitable for regional routes across Japan’s islands and neighboring Asian markets. Although only a limited number were produced before NAMC’s dissolution, the YS‑11A‑300 demonstrated Japan’s capability to design and manufacture a competitive commuter turboprop, influencing later domestic projects and cementing the YS‑11’s legacy as a pioneering Japanese airliner.