Xian Y-7 CAAC Airlines B-3457

Soon after first examples of the Antonov AN-24 were imported from the Soviet Union in the 1960s, the plan to manufacture the robust aircraft locally within China was born. The first AN-24, assembled in Xi'an by the factory of the same name, left the assembly hall in 1970. The further development of the turboprop aircraft, which was equipped with Chinese technology and now called the Y-7, got off to a rather slow start; the first production aircraft was not delivered until 1984. The equipment and performance of the Y-7 largely corresponded to the Soviet AN-24RV. Early examples were initially delivered to the air force before the state-owned CAAC, which held the monopoly as the country's only civilian airline until 1988, received numerous examples.