Shenyang FC-31 prototype to J-XY / J-35 naval fighter

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

There were even two flights today !

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

... Anigrand's model seems to be finished:

1/72 scale Shenyang J-31 - Fifth-generation carrier based fighter

By the way the J-31 has so far performed four flights !!

Deino

 

[Foxglove]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

... Anigrand's model seems to be finished:

1/72 scale Shenyang J-31 - Fifth-generation carrier based fighter

By the way the J-31 has so far performed four flights !!

Deino

Hard to tell from the available pics to compare with the original plane, but if this model is as inaccurate and simplified as Anigrand's J-20( yeah, I know, short run, shortage of good photostock at the time, etc, I still don't care- I want the model to be as faithful a scaled replica of the original as possible) , I'm gonna give this one a miss and wait patiently for Trumpeter's release.

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

... some new images - albeit with these damn stupid stamps on it !

.... and a happy new year of the snake to all !

Deino

 

[2IDSGT]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Don't sweat it, those look great. I just wish we could get some good gear-up pictures.

 

[JFC Fuller]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Based on the underside picture it looks to me like any production version will have a weapons bay almost exactly where the F-22 has its AMRAAM bay.

 

[2IDSGT]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Based on the underside picture it looks to me like any production version will have a weapons bay almost exactly where the F-22 has its AMRAAM bay.

Seems that would put a tight limit on weapons diameter like the F-22. I tried zooming in, but it appears as though the plane's bottomside has been "airbrushed" as it were. Personally, I'm expecting a deeper, longer, more-central bay; at least that's the impression I got from some of the earlier pics that showed it open from the side while on the ground.

 

[Machdiamond]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

No need for stamps. These ones were too easy to clean up, it just took a few minutes.

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

 

[kaiserbill]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The underside of the rear fuselage screams J-15 style tail-hook to me.

One of the models displayed showed a tail hook.

Not sure how official the model was.

 

[sferrin]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The underside of the rear fuselage screams J-15 style tail-hook to me.

One of the models displayed showed a tail hook.

Not sure how official the model was.

The F-22 has a tailhook. So does the F-16 and F-15 (among many other land-based aircraft).

 

[kaiserbill]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The underside of the rear fuselage screams J-15 style tail-hook to me.

One of the models displayed showed a tail hook.

Not sure how official the model was.

The F-22 has a tailhook. So does the F-16 and F-15 (among many other land-based aircraft).

True.
The model did show a substantially built tailhook though, ala the J-15, and I'm not aware of many other Chinese aircraft with a similar feature.

Again though, I'm not sure how official the model was.

Also, and I know I am purely working from my "Eyeball Mk1" here, but the undercarriage doesn't look particularly beefy to me.

 

[Magoodotcom]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Those underside images appear to have been manipulated...the underside between the main and nose gears is virtually featureless... :-\

 

[helmutkohl]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Those underside images appear to have been manipulated...the underside between the main and nose gears is virtually featureless... :-\

is it? on the first two pictures I can make out the outlines of the bay

 

[saintkatanalegacy]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

If you can see squares underneath, it's been smoothed out

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

A new image ... but most likely from the last series of images !

 

[chuck4]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The underside of the rear fuselage screams J-15 style tail-hook to me.

One of the models displayed showed a tail hook.

Not sure how official the model was.

The F-22 has a tailhook. So does the F-16 and F-15 (among many other land-based aircraft).

Western military airfields are frequently equipped with emergency runway arrester system for the hooks. The chinese and russians are not known to use similar arrester systems for military airfields. There is no evidence the chinese are contemplating one.

 

[famvburg]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

IIRC, the tailhooks on land-based aircraft are not design for carrier-type landings, the hooks nor airframes are designed for those stresses, but for the emergency cables located in many runway overruns at much lower speed.

 

[Machdiamond]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The prototype is a land based aircraft for sure, but in my opinion the design is tailored for a carrier based derivative because the nose landing gear configuration is exactly the same as the F-18 and F-14 with a rear strut to carry catapult loads. I can't think of any land based aircraft with this layout.

 

[chuck4]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The prototype is a land based aircraft for sure, but in my opinion the design is tailored for a carrier based derivative because the nose landing gear configuration is exactly the same as the F-18 and F-14 with a rear strut to carry catapult loads. I can't think of any land based aircraft with this layout.

Parvania Tornado, Lockheed YF-12, Eurofighter EF-2000, Saab Viggen, Mikoyan Mig-23, Mig-25, Mig-27, Convair F-106, North America YF-107, GD F-111.


And most relevently perhaps, the J-10

 

[2IDSGT]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The prototype is a land based aircraft for sure, but in my opinion the design is tailored for a carrier based derivative because the nose landing gear configuration is exactly the same as the F-18 and F-14 with a rear strut to carry catapult loads. I can't think of any land based aircraft with this layout.

Parvania Tornado, Lockheed YF-12, Eurofighter EF-2000, Saab Viggen, Mikoyan Mig-23, Mig-25, Mig-27, Convair F-106, North America YF-107, GD F-111.


And most relevently perhaps, the J-10

;D ;D ;D

 

[Machdiamond]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Very funny chuck4. I probably write my sentences too long and you stopped reading at the word "strut".
A rear strut designed to carry catapult loads does not look like any of the examples you have given. The strut it is attached about mid-height on the nose gear in compressed static position and angled such that catapult loads are inline with it so that the nose gear does not carry any significant loads during the cat shot.
The current J-31 gear does not look beefy enough for carrier ops no doubt, but the configuration is compatible with it.

 

[Sundog]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Very funny chuck4. I probably write my sentences too long and you stopped reading at the word "strut".
A rear strut designed to carry catapult loads does not look like any of the examples you have given. The strut it is attached about mid-height on the nose gear in compressed static position and angled such that catapult loads are inline with it so that the nose gear does not carry any significant loads during the cat shot.
The current J-31 gear does not look beefy enough for carrier ops no doubt, but the configuration is compatible with it.

It also explains the widely spaced twin nose wheels. It leaves room to place the launch bar. I've never seen a land based aircraft with twin nose wheels spaced as far apart as they are on the J-31. Hell, even the land based version of the Hornet, the F/A-18L was going to have a single nose wheel. I've also said from day one that this design has been optimized for Naval ops.

I suspect what we see flying is mainly an aerodynamic prototype, in which case you don't need all of the naval accoutrements for early flight test.

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Following the latest reports and rumours the J-21/31 (project 310) has now received military funding and will continue as a PLA program too.

Can anyone confirm this ??

Deino

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Another new image ...

Deino

 

[kaiserbill]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

As published in Flight Global earlier in the year.
Not too sure of how accurate the reporting is of the designers comments.
As with many translations, something almost inevitably gets lost in translation.
Even english speaking journalists interviewing english speaking people sometimes use artistic licence.

From this, it appears that the carrier borne role was kept in mind.
Whether it was primary, is another question.
Sun Cong has also stated in another interview that China must get carrier catapults.

Posted for what it is worth.

The chief designer of the Shenyang J-15 fighter has compared the aircraft to the Boeing F/A-18
Hornet, and suggests that the developmental J-31 could one day serve aboard
Chinese aircraft carriers.


In an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Chinese aircraft
designer Sun Cong said that the J-15 is "generally close to the US F/A-18,
reaching world class standards".

He adds that the J-15 could have a combat radius of over 1,000km (540nm) if
powered by domestic engines. This comment could corroborate reports that the
J-15s conducting flight tests aboard the aircraft carrier Liaoning are powered
by Russia's Saturn AL-31F, and not the domestically produced Shenyang
WS-10A.

For its part, in December 2012, the defence ministry said the J-15 is powered
by the WS-10A. Industry observers, however, are dubious about this claim owing
to Beijing's well-known struggles with jet engine technology.
In the interview, an abstract of which was published on China's defence
ministry website, he said that developing the J-15 presented special challenges.
Aside from a requirement to have equal "combat capability" to land-based
aircraft, naval fighters must also have exceptional low speed performance for
landing on a carrier deck.
In the version of the interview published on the People's Daily website, Sun
said that he hoped the J-31 would become China's next carrier-borne fighter.
This section of the interview was excluded from the version on the defence
ministry's website.


Beijing's plans for the J-31 is unclear. It is uncertain whether it is
designed as a competitor or complimentary type to the larger Chengdu
J-20. A model resembling the J-31 was also shown in the AVIC hall during Airshow
China in Zhuhai in November, which could suggest that Beijing seeks a foreign partner in the
programme.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/china-fighter-designer-compares-j-15-to-fa-18-hornet-383100/?cmpid=SOC%7CFGFG%7Ctwitterfeed%7CFlightglobal

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Even if posted only today the J-31 was spotted again over SAC during its “first birthday” anniversary flight (maiden flight was on31. October 2012)

 

[SOC]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Engine trouble? Look at the different dilation of the exhaust nozzles.

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Good observation, but to admit this project is still a mystery for me: On the one side it fits nicely into what the PLAAf and even more the PLANAF requires ... on the other side it is said to be only a private-venture from SAC/AVIC (what I don't believe) or then again now an official one ....

Deino

 

[Trident]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Not necessarily real engine trouble, but quite possibly simulated. I believe this is regularly done as part of even operational flying (for pilot practice).

 

[Sundog]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Isn't that also done when they limit how much thrust the aircraft has during testing? i.e.-They don't want to over power it, before they've expanded the envelope? I've seen the same thing in J-20 pictures and I've seen images of other aircraft, not Chinese, with the same differential nozzle settings as well. Such as the MiG-1.42/44. I'm still not sure what the designation is of the MiG prototype that flew.

 

[flanker]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Engine trouble? Look at the different dilation of the exhaust nozzles.

That often happens to RD-33's on the ground, nothing unusual, probably happens in air too. This is either a burp in the system or they are test landing with one engine.

I'm still not sure what the designation is of the MiG prototype that flew.

1.44

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The so far best video I've seen on the J-31, posed by "AssassinsMace" at the SDF. :thanks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a1YgeKG8jJo

Interesting is also the serial of the J-11B Regarding the number ist looks like 0601 ... maybe aircraft no. 01 of serial block 06. :what:

Deino

 

[FighterJock]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The so far best video I've seen on the J-31, posed by "AssassinsMace" at the SDF. :thanks:



Interesting is also the serial of the J-11B Regarding the number ist looks like 0601 ... maybe aircraft no. 01 of serial block 06. :what:

Deino

Brilliant video Deino, thanks for sharing.

 

[fightingirish]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

The Shenyang J-31 Shen Fei (Falcon Eagle) 2nd 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft being developed by China has resumed test flight program and its prototype 31001 conducted test flight on 14th may 2014.

Link: http://chinesemilitaryreview.blogspot.de/2014/05/shenyang-j-31-falcon-eagle-stealth.html

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Yes, but even ... but even more interesting there are some rumours floating around in several Chinese BBs:

Since a few months it is said that a second prototype will be finished but following latest rumours this one will be numbered '35001' standing for "project 350" or J-35 - just to remember the current technology demonstrator is called "project 310". Most intereting is however is that it will feature foldable wings and a "slightly lower tail" (dont know what that means in the original text).

No info is given to when it will fly or even when it will be unveiled and according to that rumor, the current J-31 will be put into hiatus for a period and maybe modified, while 35001 flies.

Quite interesting - and since the mystery surrounding the J-designation is already on - there are a few explanations about the propable "J-31 & J-35" designations

J-11 (Land based fighter) -> J-31 (Land based stealth fighter)
J-15 (Carrier based fighter) -> J-35 (Carrier based stealth fighter)

So, J-X1 is always land-based, while J-X5 is always carrier based for SAC / Shenyang fighters.

CAC / Chengdu might have the same with J-X0 (J-10, J-20) if there will be a carrier capable J-20 one day, and so it might be designated "J-25".

Anyway I'm almost sure that even the PLAAF and PLANAF right now still nor know what and IF and even more WHAT J-XX ... as such just wait and see.

Deino

PS: these are from the latest flight

 

[latenlazy]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Yes, but even ... but even more interesting there are some rumours floating around in several Chinese BBs:

Since a few months it is said that a second prototype will be finished but following latest rumours this one will be numbered '35001' standing for "project 350" or J-35 - just to remember the current technology demonstrator is called "project 310". Most intereting is however is that it will feature foldable wings and a "slightly lower tail" (dont know what that means in the original text).

If you can give me the source I can check to see if by "lower" they actually mean shorter, because under certain contexts those words are interchangeable.

 

[Deino]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Nice ... but just look 4-5 Posts above !

 

[quellish]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Nice ... but just look 4-5 Posts above !

Has anyone figured out what speeds the J-31 and J-20 prototypes are landing at?

 

[latenlazy]

Re: Shenyang J-21 / J-31 revealed!

Nice ... but just look 4-5 Posts above !

Has anyone figured out what speeds the J-31 and J-20 prototypes are landing at?

There are videos of the J-20 landing on youtube. Shouldn't be too hard to figure a rough estimate from those.