YS-11NT

The YS‑11NT is the turboprop‑powered evolution of Japan’s first domestically designed airliner, the YS‑11, and it was produced by the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC) during the late 1960s and early 1970s. After the original YS‑11 entered service in 1965, market demand for higher speed, better fuel efficiency and greater payload capacity led NAMC to develop a stretched, more powerful version. The NT (New Turbo‑prop) featured two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW‑K 4/64 turboprop engines delivering 4,400 shp, a redesigned wing with increased span and revised high‑lift devices, and a reinforced fuselage that extended the cabin by 1.5 m to accommodate up to 32 passengers. Modernized avionics, pressurised cargo holds and a strengthened landing gear allowed the aircraft to operate from short, unpaved runways, making it ideal for regional routes across Japan’s islands and remote Asian destinations. Though only a limited number were built—approximately 20 units—the YS‑11NT demonstrated Japan’s ability to integrate turboprop technology into a proven airframe, bridging the gap between piston‑engine transports and the later jet‑age regional aircraft. Its operational flexibility and domestic production fostered a sense of national aviation pride and provided valuable experience that informed subsequent Japanese aerospace projects.