YS-11E Super YS

The YS‑11E Super YS, developed by Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation in the late 1960s, was an advanced derivative of the original YS‑11 turboprop transport. Conceived to meet growing demand for regional airliners that could operate from short, unimproved runways, the Super YS incorporated a stretched fuselage, a higher‑capacity cabin for up to 32 passengers, and more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A‑27 engines delivering 1,400 shaft horsepower each. Flight testing began in 1970 and the type entered commercial service with Japan Domestic Airlines in 1972, later serving carriers across Asia and the Pacific. Structural enhancements included a reinforced wing box, updated avionics suite with weather radar and VHF navigation, and improved de‑icing systems that expanded its operability in winter climates. Although production ceased in 1978 after 68 airframes, the YS‑11E Super YS proved pivotal in demonstrating Japan’s capability to design and manufacture reliable, modern turboprop airliners without foreign assistance. Its legacy endures in the training and maintenance programs it inspired, and it laid the technological foundation for later Japanese projects such as the MRJ regional jet. Today a few Super YS aircraft still operate in remote island services, showcasing the type’s durability and efficient economics.