Chinese Stealth shaped aircraft

[vulture]

Hi all;

What does everyone on this forum think of this Chinese stealth design? It appears to be a small scale RCS model I especially want to see comments from Stargazer and Deino - others may chime-in at will.

Enjoy

Vulture

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Forum rules:

Wherever possible, quote source.

Looks nothing like a stealthy shape btw.

 

[SOC]

That could be an example of how not to make a stealthy aircraft. Slab sides, perpendicular angles..not a very good job.

 

[Matej]

We could easily replace the "stealth shaped" with the "black painted" and it will be much accurate. Probably fan art, probably official fictitious model for confusing, but definitely not stealthy.

 

[elmayerle]

No, not particularly stealth-shaped based on what I know of it (and after working on three different programs involving low observables, I'd think I've some knowledge to base that on). An interesting shape but not too stealthy.

 

[Stargazer]

Vulture, what can I say? Clean design but not stealthy from what I can see... Would make for nice whiffs... Now we'll have to find a name for it!

 

[Michel Van]

that is not stealthy

to much Slab sides, perpendicular angles, Air intake under plane and Jet nozzle clear to see
all this are very good radar reflector
from Infrared point of view also not stealthy

by the way
from were comes that picture ?

 

[vulture]

what more would you expect for initial attempt at stealth from the Chinese? Or do you perhaps think the Chinese are on par with the West in stealth technology? The source is a Chinese defense web site after all. It is definitely a model - not a CGI or fan art. I never made any claims if it were a good stealth design at any rate - I just tried to illustrate the Chinese's 1st attempt with such technologies. Forgive me if I erred here guys.

Vulture

 

[Stargazer]

No probs as far as I'm concerned, vulture! The model is interesting and I quite like the design. It is pretty sleek, a radical change from the Shenyang and Xian spin-offs of MiGs that we've been used to for ages!

 

[Matej]

Its OK, we are all here for the rational discussion, but I would like to know, what is the base for your statement that it is the initial attempt at stealth from the Chinese? In other words, where is the evidence, that it isn't pure fan-art model? BTW I used to manufacture some of them by myself (see attachment).

For the first attempt in stealth technology, I expect something much standard, such as the new design with the faceted surface (USA, Germany) or rubber based RAM material, applied on some existing airframe (Soviet union) or smart curved shaping on the most significant radar reflectors (France).

 

[Michel Van]

what more would you expect for initial attempt at stealth from the Chinese? Or do you perhaps think the Chinese are on par with the West in stealth technology? The source is a Chinese defense web site after all. It is definitely a model - not a CGI or fan art. I never made any claims if it were a good stealth design at any rate - I just tried to illustrate the Chinese's 1st attempt with such technologies. Forgive me if I erred here guys.

Vulture

i see your point, Vulture
can it be this is reverence Model for radar test, to understand how radar is reflects ?

 

[elmayerle]

what more would you expect for initial attempt at stealth from the Chinese? Or do you perhaps think the Chinese are on par with the West in stealth technology? The source is a Chinese defense web site after all. It is definitely a model - not a CGI or fan art. I never made any claims if it were a good stealth design at any rate - I just tried to illustrate the Chinese's 1st attempt with such technologies. Forgive me if I erred here guys.

Well, I'd at least expect them to gather a few clues from declassified and readily visible demonstrators like Tacit Blue. There are several aspects readily observable on that aircraft that would apply here. I don't necessarily expect the same level of knowledge as other countries but I do expect some basic competency. The only definitely stealthy feature I see is the configuration of the inlets that would mask the radar signature of the front faces of the engines. Now, generally flat sides doe not ipso-facto make a design non-stealthy, both Tacit Blue and TSSAM had fairly flat, but angled, sides; the first to house a lpi radar and the second for aero and capacity reasons but there are some other aspects of those that I don't see here.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Perhaps it's a high-speed target drone.

 

[Orionblamblam]

What does everyone on this forum think of this Chinese stealth design?

I'd say it looks like a wind tunnel model that utilizes a single rectangular underslung inlet... an inlet that has been faired over for tunnel-testing. Kinda looks like it might be a University-level design, painted up for display.

Something like this, but with the inlet covered.

 

[vulture]

some additional images

Vulture

 

[vulture]

here ya go! I think Shenyang is the owner of this model. B)

Vulture

 

[vulture]

My personal nickname would be "Black Eagle," but that's just me.

Vulture B)

 

[AeroFranz]

is it me or the flow separates immediately behind that rather abrupt ramp? I can't imagine the engine being happy with that.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

And what makes us think this model is anything official from Shenyang, rather than a what-if in someones' bedroom?

 

[vulture]

It was only of the features at an exhibition held in China. Anyway, that is the info I got.

Vulture B)

 

[vulture]

Same exhibition as the black model, but different - more stealthy model. Other image is high-ranking general of the Chinese Air Force (or the PLAAF).

Vulture B)

 

[vulture]

The high-ranking PLAAF general above is PLAAF Commander Xu Qiliang.

Vulture B)

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Other image is high-ranking general of the Chinese Air Force (or the PLAAF).

Interesting uniform. For one the lead 3 star AF general doesn't appear to wear pilot's wings. Not that it’s a bad thing but as a commander of an air force - extremely rare. The other is their ribbons. They wear multiple copies of same award and in different positions. The lead general has 7 awards of the aqua ribbon, 5 of a medium blue one, 4 of a grey one, 4 of a beige one and one yellow one with a device on it.

As to the models they look more like various project studies from the local science institute. Displayed here for aesthetics more than anything. None of them are stealthy.

 

[Stargazer]

Somehow this shape reminds of something Rutan-ish, but I can't seem to pinpoint just what design at this point...

 

[Hammer Birchgrove]

Its OK, we are all here for the rational discussion, but I would like to know, what is the base for your statement that it is the initial attempt at stealth from the Chinese? In other words, where is the evidence, that it isn't pure fan-art model? BTW I used to manufacture some of them by myself (see attachment).

For the first attempt in stealth technology, I expect something much standard, such as the new design with the faceted surface (USA, Germany) or rubber based RAM material, applied on some existing airframe (Soviet union) or smart curved shaping on the most significant radar reflectors (France).

Is it the MIG-31 'Firefox' from the Clint Eastwood movie I see in your attached image?

 

[collins355]

The man photographed is the commander of the PLAAF General Xu.

http://eng.mod.gov.cn/Database/Leadership/2009-07/29/content_4016492.htm

Other image is high-ranking general of the Chinese Air Force (or the PLAAF).

Interesting uniform. For one the lead 3 star AF general doesn't appear to wear pilot's wings. Not that it’s a bad thing but as a commander of an air force - extremely rare. The other is their ribbons. They wear multiple copies of same award and in different positions. The lead general has 7 awards of the aqua ribbon, 5 of a medium blue one, 4 of a grey one, 4 of a beige one and one yellow one with a device on it.

As to the models they look more like various project studies from the local science institute. Displayed here for aesthetics more than anything. None of them are stealthy.

 

[Colonial-Marine]

What does everyone on this forum think of this Chinese stealth design?

I'd say it looks like a wind tunnel model that utilizes a single rectangular underslung inlet... an inlet that has been faired over for tunnel-testing. Kinda looks like it might be a University-level design, painted up for display.

Something like this, but with the inlet covered.

Fantastic picture of the Mig 1.44 there. Any more from whatever source you got it from?