IATA YS1ICAO YS11

NAMC YS-11

NAMC

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Japan's first postwar domestically designed airliner.

First flight

1962

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

Range

2,200 km

Engines

Two Rolls-Royce Dart Mk 542 turboprops

Status

Retired

The NAMC YS-11 is a twin-turboprop transport aircraft developed by the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC), a consortium formed by several Japanese aerospace companies. It was designed as Japan's first indigenous postwar commercial aircraft, representing a significant milestone in the country's aviation recovery and industrial ambition. The YS-11 entered airline service in 1965 and was operated by numerous Japanese domestic carriers as well as several international operators. It served on short-haul regional routes, proving reliable and economical for thin domestic markets. Production ended in 1974 after 182 aircraft were built. While most have been retired from commercial passenger service, a small number continued operating in cargo and government roles into the 21st century. The type holds cultural and historical significance in Japan as a symbol of postwar industrial revival.

Notable operators

All Nippon Airways, Japan Air Commuter, South Korean carrier Korean Air Lines, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force were among its major operators.

Notable facts

›The YS-11 was Japan's first domestically designed and manufactured postwar commercial transport aircraft.
›A total of 182 aircraft were produced between 1962 and 1974.
›NAMC was a government-backed consortium including Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Fuji, Shin Meiwa, and Nihon Hikoki.
›The aircraft was exported to operators in the United States, Greece, South Korea, and several other countries.
›The Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force operated the YS-11 for decades.