Japanese made Passenger Airplane
Type YS11

This YS-11-type airplane, which is owned and preserved by the National Science Museum, had been used by the Civil Aviation Bureau of the then Transport Ministry. It was given the airframe registration number JA8610 (acquired in March 1965) and had the honor of being the No. 1 mass production model (serial number 2003). The airplane made its maiden flight on October 12, 1964, and was handed over to the Civil Aviation Bureau of the then Transport Ministry in 1965 and named ‘Chiyoda II’. From then on, the airplane was used for flight inspection and recorded in excess of 20,000 hours until its final flight in December 1998. The airplane is one of the oldest airframes following the two prototype models and has considerable heritage value. To preserve the airplane in a form closer to the original, the National Science Museum implemented a periodical inspection about four times a year after obtaining up to now. The facility also records such data as chronological changes and maintenance work and collects information regarding the conservation of cultural properties.

Prototype No.1 is exhibited in the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences in Narita, while prototype No.2 has not been preserved. This airplane is the No.3 commercially manufactured one.