Fly the only post-World War II commercial airliner designed and manufactured entirely within Japan!
Rise of an Innovative, Powerful Turboprop
The YS-11 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner that was developed and produced by Japanese aviation consortium Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC). The story of the YS-11 began in the wake of the Second World War in the mid-1950s. The Japanese government sought to foster development of an airliner wholly created by Japanese companies and in so doing sparked the rise of a domestic commercial aerospace industry. Several major industrial firms came together to form the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation in May of 1957 and engineers began work on what would become the YS-11 in 1959.
The YS-11 design comprises a low-mounted main wing, a pressurized cabin, and retractable tricycle landing gear. NAMC created two ground static test aircraft and two flyable prototypes, the first of which took its maiden flight on August 30, 1962. After several pre-production improvements, the YS-11 was certified for flight on September 9, 1965.
A Reliable and Enduring Workhorse
NAMC manufactured 182 YS-11 airframes in several iterations from 1962 to 1974. The airplane served both civil and military users throughout the world for decades and several remain in limited service. Piloted by two, the YS-11 carried up to 64 passengers, 10,000 pounds of cargo, or some combination of the two.
The aircraft quickly proved to be rugged, stable, efficient, and reliable. Due to its powerful engines and aerodynamically efficient wing design, the YS-11 became an excellent choice for short-field operations. Airlines from dozens of countries adopted the YS-11 for both passenger service and cargo flights. The militaries of Japan and Greece used the model for general airlift, surveillance, and electronic warfare missions.
The YS-11 measures 86 feet, 4 inches in length, stands 29 feet, 6 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 105 feet. It is powered by two wing-mounted Rolls-Royce Dart Mk.542-12K turboprop engines that each deliver up to 3,060 horsepower. Each engine turns a 4-blade, constant-speed, fully reversible Dowty Rotol propeller. The YS-11 has a maximum range of 1,485 miles, a service ceiling of 23,000 feet above sea level, and a maximum climb rate of 1,220 feet per minute. It can take-off with a ground roll of 3,642 feet and land in 2,165 feet. It has a stall speed of 86 miles per hour, a cruising speed of 294 mph, and a top speed of 340 mph.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator NAMC YS-11
The Microsoft Flight Simulator NAMC YS-11 is ready for simmers to explore the MSFS world and is available for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. It comes in two variants: Passenger and VIP Charter. Each variant comes with the following liveries: Plain White; White, Grey and Blue; Red, Yellow, and Blue Stripe; Maritime Grey; Red, White, and Blue Stripe; Red, Blue, and Black Stripe. The aircraft is available for purchase today in the in-sim marketplaces for USD $19.99. It is also available for 7-day rental for USD $9.99, 3-day rental for USD $6.99, or 1-day free trial.
The sky is calling!
Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator products, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter) or visit www.flightsimulator.com.