XXJ - Chinese fifth generation fighter programme

[Guest JamesG123]

Does not look very prototype-y.

[Yalmuk]

What are those "ripples" in the right wing, something to do with RAM coating?

[Yalmuk]

J-20 doing some rolls.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwBLUbYSVWI

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INGTSrGaYJw

[LeoTanker]

Does not look very prototype-y.

 

FYI lots of the J-20 pics floating around on the webb have proved to been doctored in PS in one way or the other. Smothed surfaces etc.

Most pics arent frauds I'm sure. But some are. Worth to keep in mind.

[Yalmuk]

This one was taken few days ago.

Edited August 28, 2011 by Yalmuk

[Yalmuk]

I would say that belly bay is at least 2 meters long. Any idea how deep it could be?

Edited August 29, 2011 by Yalmuk

[CaptLuke]

I would say that belly bay is at least 2 meters long. Any idea how deep it could be?

 

PL-12 missile is listed as 3.93M long so I would imagine it is at least that long. No idea how deep.

[Archie Pellagio]

I would say that belly bay is at least 2 meters long. Any idea how deep it could be?

 

Assuming old mate in the blue shirt is within 1m of the door I would say the bay is closer to 3.5-4 meters long assuming he is about ~5'8"

[Yalmuk]

Video of that same event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc_0vZ8hrtc

 

That maintanance door(or whatever it is) between side bay and landing gear is quite big.

[Archie Pellagio]

Video of that same event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc_0vZ8hrtc

 

That maintanance door(or whatever it is) between side bay and landing gear is quite big.

 

Looks only slightly smaller than the passenger door of the Dash 8 I just flew in...

[Yalmuk]

Another new (real or not?) photo, but it's odd if they haul engine for J-20 around so careless way.

Edited September 7, 2011 by Yalmuk

[Guest JamesG123]

That maintanance door(or whatever it is) between side bay and landing gear is quite big.

 

That's the main gear doors.

 

One of the keys to RCS is to limit the number of seams and panels in the surface. The large size of the door and that it hangs open like that might mean that component access and service is performed via it.

[pikachu]

The large size of the door and that it hangs open like that might mean that component access and service is performed via it.

 

Probably correct. There are pictures of at least one mechanic crawling about inside the wheel well while kneeling suspended on the big door.

[Yalmuk]

Finally we are getting some glances at the cockpit.

Edited September 11, 2011 by Yalmuk

[Archie Pellagio]

Surprisingly old skool...

[CaptLuke]

Surprisingly old skool...

 

Maybe not. By focusing all of the development risk on a stealth air frame they get their proof of concept plane in the air faster and get some experience with it. The US has seen the effects of trying to do a bleeding edge airframe and stuff it with bleeding edge avionics all in the same program several times (not that we're learning anything from the experiences).

[Archie Pellagio]

Maybe not. By focusing all of the development risk on a stealth air frame they get their proof of concept plane in the air faster and get some experience with it. The US has seen the effects of trying to do a bleeding edge airframe and stuff it with bleeding edge avionics all in the same program several times (not that we're learning anything from the experiences).

 

While I don't disagree with that at all (As I've been saying for years - Thats how the Chinese develop weapons - Evolutionary and In service) it doesn't make the cockpit design any less old school.

 

That is to modern 4/5th gen fighters what the MiG29's and Su27's were to the F/A18 and F16C's in the 80's.

Edited September 12, 2011 by Luke Y

[Corinthian]

That's a big frame for the HUD.

[Guest JamesG123]

Surprisingly old skool...

 

 

I don't see how you can make that assessment based on one grainy photo.

 

[Corinthian]

I thought that HUDs were nowadays frameless already (or rather, had minimal frames). Then again, that's an F-16, yes?

 

Re: the grainy photo of the Chinese fighter, seems to me I see two, possibly three MFDs. The rest look like your usual collection of dials.

[Guest JamesG123]

F-22. It has to be able to take the G loading and can be any thickness in length you want since the pilot can't see it only how "thick" it appears from his perspective.

 

Any your monitor must be much better than mine to be able to divine that much detail. I only see a collection of random dark spots.

[Archie Pellagio]

I don't see how you can make that assessment based on one grainy photo.

 

Maybe adjust your monitor settings, I can see pretty clearly it looks like an F15/16/18 era cockpit compared with the fully glass cockpits of F22:

 

And the F35 which doesn't even have a HUD

Edited September 14, 2011 by Luke Y

[Yalmuk]

Pictures from todays flight.

[Archie Pellagio]

Just got thinking, has there ever been a twin tailed delta winged aircraft in service before this?

[Guest JamesG123]

Very Firefoxy.

 

XB-70 is one. In fact the planiform is quite similar roughly speaking.

 

And the F35 which doesn't even have a HUD

 

Nice mockup.

 

What happens when the HMD fails? Does an iron ring sight pop up out of the instrument panel?

Edited September 23, 2011 by JamesG123