Posted on 01/10/2011 7:51:42 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
New photo suggests J-20 achieves maiden flight
By Stephen Trimble
A new photo circulating on aviation web sites indicates China's newest fighter project has achieved first flight.
The maiden flight of the stealthy Chengdu J-20 prototype has been anticipated since the aircraft was revealed in unofficial photos that started appearing on the web in late December.
The new photo shows the J-20 after takeoff with the landing gear still lowered. The aircraft does not appear to be using afterburners in the image. Further details about the aircraft's first sortie are still unknown.
The J-20's sudden appearance took the non-Chinese aviation community by surprise a few weeks ago.
Photo circulating on aviation web sites suggest the Chengdu J-20 has achieved first flight The existence of a Chinese stealth fighter programme has been acknowledged by US defence officials for more than a decade, but not the pace of China's progress in developing a rival to the Lockheed Martin F-22 and F-35.
Some US officials, including retired Lt Gen Tom McInerney, have called for the US to restart F-22 production in response to the J-20's possible new threat.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told reporters on 9 January, as he was en route to Beijing for a new round of military-to-military talks, acknowledged the J-20's public unveiling came as a surprise.
"I think that what we've seen is that they may be somewhat further ahead in the development of that aircraft than our intelligence had earlier predicted," Gates says.
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
Sort of a “canard” canard, eh. ;-)
DG
Yes, if they are canard canards, then they must be real!................
Next question: Did it land on its wheels or under them?
"The Defense Department had long used the mystery of the MiG-25 as a “boogeyman” to scare the government into funding advanced U.S. weaponry.",
While the truth is somewhere in the middle, the bottom line is that America is bankrupt and leadership priorities are focused elsewhere. The United States is well on the path to becoming a second rate military power in the not to distant future. Sad to say, the means and will for America to stay the number one military power are sorely lacking.
I agree... my opinion... it has not flown yet.
LLS
Here’s an update, if you could call it that.
Odd thing about the photo, when jet powered aircraft take off, normally you would see a heat plume coming off the exhaust. In this case, there should be a distortion in the picture around/aft the exhaust nozzle area. Or even flame assuming that this thing would require afterburner during takeoff.
Amazing-i’ve applied for membership to the Society of J-20 skeptics after seeing this!!
Update from Chengdu as of 1230 local time from Chinese aircraft enthusiasts. Two VIP Boeing 737s have now landed at Chengdu. Cameras have been set up and manned. The J-20 has completed a high-speed taxi. Security is very tight and is now blocking roads and stopping traffic. A J-10 chase aircraft with a possible camera pod has now flown twice on possible weather sorties.
1243 local - J-20 engine running on runway.
J-20 is now flying with J-10 as chase aircraft as of 1250 local.
TJ
Excellent detective work. Hopefully that will get some people like Kopp and a few here down off the ledge, but I doubt it.
No problem. I’m just following the microbloggers posting from outside the base. These are being relayed onto several aircraft enthusiast forums.
1300 (Chengdu time) J-20 and J-10 chase aircraft have completed two low passes over the airfield.
1310 - J-20 has landed.
Thanks. Expecting Paeans to the Motherland now.
No problem. A slight error popped into one of the image links. The very first image is of an F-35.
Some links to better quality images. Probably my eyes, but I can't see a weapons bay? Possibly it will be fielded on the rumoured 2002 airframe?
It looks like a flying Pontiac Catalina
And right when DefSecGates was in Beijing!
The Middle Kingdom’s Dragon just bitchslapped Uncle Sam.
I’m going for Chinese noodles tonight.
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