This plane was the first major aviation project in Japan after the ban on aviation activities placed after WW2 was lifted in 1957.

The plane's basic design was made by an all-star team made up of famous designers such as Jiro Horikoshi (Zero), Shizuo Kikuhara (Emily and George), Takeo Doi (Tony, Nick) and Hidemasa Kimura (Kokenki long-range world record plane).

The actual design work was undertaken by a team of engineers lead by Mitsubishi engineer Teruo Tojo, who worked on the A6M Zero design team under Horikoshi. Tojo's father is the former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.

Being the first Japanese design after a long blank period, the designers put an excessive safety margin into the design, making the aircraft heavy and underpowered but very rugged and durable.

Changes in Japanese regulations requiring TCAS equipment on airliners forced the YS-11 into retirement from airline services in 2006, but they continue to serve with overseas airlines and Japanese armed forces and coast guard.

Some of these planes had their engines changed to Allison T64 engines.

An example serves with the Greek Air Force after retiring from Olympic Airlines.

Hi,
I flew this aircraft with Air Caribbean Ltd in Trinidad, some of this numbers appear to be different, Max TO weight I remember it 60.000 Lbs, Engine is the RR DART MK542, pasenger capacity was 64 Pax, Service ceiling was 20.000 Feet. I may be wrong as it was a long time ago but I can dig it up if needed, This is a great website, keep up the good work, Thanks

Regards