YS-11EA

The YS‑11EA is a Japanese twin‑engine turboprop airliner produced by Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Developed as a modernized version of the original YS‑11, the EA variant replaced the radial Pratt & Whitney R‑1830 engines with more efficient Allison 250‑type turboprops, giving the aircraft better climb performance, lower fuel consumption and reduced cabin noise. First flown on 16 March 1968, the YS‑11EA entered service with Japan’s domestic carriers and several regional airlines in Asia, proving particularly useful on short‑haul routes that required rugged operation from unimproved airfields. The airframe retained the all‑metal low‑wing design, retractable tricycle landing gear and a spacious cabin capable of accommodating up to 60 passengers in a two‑class layout. Advanced avionics for the era, including VHF navigation radios and a primitive flight‑management system, helped pilots manage the aircraft in varying weather conditions. Though only a limited number were built, the YS‑11EA demonstrated Japan’s ability to transition from licensed production to indigenous design, paving the way for later projects such as the Mitsubishi Regional Jet. Its legacy endures as a symbol of post‑war Japanese engineering competence and regional air‑transport development.