Communist China will Try to Copy Giant Soviet Aircraft Carrier in Attempt to Expand its Naval Power

The London Times | March 5, 2002 | Oliver August

[Orion78]

BUMP

[Orion78]

"That looks a bit like a carrier designed for VTOL aircraft - do the Chinese have any VTOL aircraft?"

"In its building, unique engineering working were used, allowing to aircraft to take off practically without starting run. Post #14

---

Chinese Military Aircraft Designations

Z - Zhishengji (VTOL/Helicopter)

Designation	Manufacturer	Model; Remarks
Z-5	Harbin	Mil Mi-4 built in China; known as "Syuan Fen" (Whirlwind)
Z-6	Harbin	Turboshaft version of Z-5 (prototype only, not produced)
Z-7	(No information)
Z-8	Changhe	Aérospatiale SA321 built in China
Z-9	Harbin	Eurocopter AS365N Dauphin built in China; versions include Z-9, Z-9A (AS365N1) and Z-9G
Z-10	-	Conflicting references: - Attack helicopter - 12-14 seat transport helicopter
Z-11	Changhe	Eurocopter AS355 Fennec built in China
Z-?	Harbin	Chinese-built attack helicopter (based on Z-9)

[New Zealander]

Thankfully all helos - I should have said 'fixed wing VTOL...'

I had a bit of a look around the net and discovered the launching ramp you can see in the photos isn't quite the same thing as seen on Royal Navy carriers that launch Harriers, and is actually used to launch non-VTOL aircraft. The ramp is replaced on US carriers by the catapult - and the technology for one is apparently quite difficult to perfect. That surprised me, but the key problem is getting good reliability from a design, which is fair enough when you think of what must have been in the design brief.

The ramp concept is a bit of a budget solution that doesn't permit launching in all weathers like the catapult. It's got to be one important difference between a good carrier and an inferior one. Having VTOL aircraft is another way to go all weather, although that has its problems too.

If the Chinese are desperate enough for the tech that they'll buy carriers, you can bet they are snooping around elsewhere too.

[Francohio]

It was supposed to be turned into a casino in Macau, according to the official Chinese buyer, a company called Chong Lot that has no known links to the gaming sector but has been linked to the military. When Macau awarded new casino licences last month, Chong Lot was not among successful bidders.

So solly, Numba one son has not won gambering ricense. My o My, now we must sell to miritaly so famiry investment wirr not be rost! (If you have any trouble with the accent, see any science teaching assistant at a major university.) Suplize suplize!
So what's the specs on this carrier? Supposed to be Nuclear? 40Knts Plus? What was it supposed to launch? BTW, that is one heroic towing job.

[Saturnalia]

I say we hurry up sub construction so the Virginia class
can spend some "quality time" with these nice big targets. They can't get you if they can't hear you.