Chengdu J-20, China's first Stealth fighter...

[Jaap]

First flight was cancelled this morning. Tomorrow next try.

Jaap

[Jaap]

Getting ready with a JL8 suppposedly as chase plane-to-be.
So also CAC has dumped its JJ6 aircraft



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[Stratofreighter]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwhq-QeRJkE[/youtube]

[Jaap]

Unfortunately the first flight had to be cancelled yesterday, supposedly due to the weather (low clouds?).
Compliments to the guy who dared to make that decision with so many senior officials flown in!

While around these people also were able to get a close look of a J10S in flight test phase (c/n j10s?0220)

[Stratofreighter]

Yes, it's a FoxNews piece, but retired USAF Lieutenant-General Thomas_McInerney may actually have a point...

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/01/ ... -accident/

'Stealth' Chinese Fighter Jet Photos No Accident
By Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney

Published January 06, 2011

The Chinese have deliberately and very cleverly leaked their new fifth generation stealth fighter, the J-20, just in time for Secretary of Defense Gates' long delayed visit to Beijing this Sunday.

This is another move by the Chinese to subtly send the current American administration -- and our Asian allies signals -- that they are investing heavily in military capabilities that will dominate Asia in the future.

The addition of the DF-21B Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) -- which is already operational according to Admiral Willard, Commander of Pacific Command -- is alarming.

This capability, coupled with the J-20 stealth fighter (although not operational for a number of years), presents American and Allied Forces in the region with a formidable threat to our carrier battle groups and our decreasing Air Force tactical and bomber forces.

On any given day we would be lucky to have 70 F-22s and 5 B-2s operationally available worldwide plus the new F-35 which will be no match for the J-20.

Shades of 1939 are here again.

Secretary Gates' and President Hu Jintao’s visits and discussions will further reveal that the Chinese have a different vision of their future position in Asia than the United States and our allies had previously imagined.

Bottom line: Beware America, time is running out!

Thomas G. McInerney is a retired Air Force Lt. Gen who graduated from West Point in 1959 and retired as Assistant Vice Chief of the Air Force. He is a Fox News military analyst.

[Coati]

Yes, it's a FoxNews piece, but retired USAF Lieutenant-General Thomas_McInerney may actually have a point...

You forgot the most important piece of the article, which puts everything in the right perspective:

The Obama administration’s decision to kill the F-22 production line in April 2009 without a whimper from a Democratically-controlled Congress does not look very good now. I can assure our readers it will have huge adverse consequences in the future. Alarm bells should be going off in the new Republican Congress. I hope they are not in denial like their predecessors.

The quickest solution would be to insert funding for 12 F-22s into the 2011 budget that is under a Continuing Resolution now while the F-22 line is still open -- and keep that line going as a counter to this fast developing Chinese threat.

Our Japanese and Australian allies in the Pacific would be delighted to buy this superb stealth fighter aircraft if we would only let them. Burden sharing by our allies is going to be even more important for stability in Asia in the future.


Or: this guy is just lobbying to keep the F-22 production line open, and is using the J-20 with his totally unknown capabilities to plea for a FY12 budget for 12 F-22. And is trying to get foreign sales (again to let the production line running) for Japan and Australia.

So this has nothing to do with the J-20, but with the ungoing battles in Congress and between politicians who are fighting for a share of the budget for their pet projects: F-136 engines, F-22, F-35, additional F-16s/F-18s etc etc. So he doesn't have a point, and is just lobbying for the F-22.

[Jaap]

"old" footage

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAAwHsinqV0[/youtube]

Jaap

[Jaap]

At 04.50 UTC it took off for its first flight followed by a landing 18 minutes later.
Chase was provided by J10S 2-20

Let the pictures come!
Jaap

[Jaap]

Two nice video's for the disbelievers

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfPbf3Ob_1M[/youtube]

and

http://www.56.com/flashApp/56.10.12.03. ... 52755&ref=

Jaap

[Jaap]

26 July: Just another day at 5th generation technology demonstration center/test center/aircraft producer Chengdu..
featuring the J20, 5th prototype FC-1 (improved version compared to JF-17) and 5th prototype J10B (latest version of J10, this one in Navy c/s)

http://www.56.com/flashApp/56.11.07.26. ... zQ&ref=www

Jaap

[P.Terlouw]

the second J-20 is also seen outside the factory in Chengdu and wearing the serial "2002"

[P.Terlouw]

the second J-20 prototype is seen conducting taxi trials last week and is expected to make its first flight soon.

[Stefan]

First flight of 2nd proto was today

[P.Terlouw]

http://mil.huanqiu.com/photo_china/2012-05/2648683.html

5月16日下午14时49分，我国第五代战机——歼-20的第二架原型机2002号首飞成功，15时8分，完美降落。这标志着我们五代机研制进程迈入了新的一页

The afternoon of May 16, 14:49, the fifth-generation fighter - F -20 second prototype a successful maiden flight (reg 2002) in 15:08, a perfect landing. This marks the Five Dynasties and machine development process of entering a new one.

[Jaap]

Just another day today at CAC-Chengdu, with a first testflight of the second J20 prototype after modifications, two (three?) J10 deliveries and FC-1 testflight with some yet to be delivered J10s and J7s (must be for Bangladesh) in the background

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4QpR5Oa ... re=g-all-u