Exported J-7

Thank you Chaminuka that is an interesting article.

A picture of an AFZ Hawk Mk60 carrying BL755 CBU at Kinshasa Ndjili International airport in August 1998 on the BBC website.

Looks like J-7 production is finally done (I'm guessing that includes the export ones too)

部分歼七在此“退休”，标志着一个时代的结束和一个时代的诞生
　　
　　“在我们这里‘退休’的飞机，有的是因为‘编余’，也有的是因为航空兵部队‘更新换代’。 那一年，一部分歼七战机被转运到中心保存，就标志着一个时代的结束和一个时代的诞生！”中心政委刘向东说起这个话题感慨万分。
　　从1964年11月4日航空工业部把“62式”正式命名为“歼击七型”始，这种源自苏联米格21的飞机开始了在中国的非凡历程，40多年来歼七飞机改型繁多，生产数量数千架并大量出口和援外。在国内，歼七系列战机是国土防空和争夺制空权的干将，在接受我国军援和军售的很多国家，歼七系列战机是其空军部队的生力军。
　　歼七系列战机不断发展的历史，也是人民空军装备建设历程的一个缩影。今天，我国自主研发的歼十战机陆续装备空军航空兵部队，歼七系列的发展之路也就慢慢走到了尽头。歼七逐渐淡出舞台，而大幕永远不会落下，未来的天空舞台属于后进新人。
　　按照我军传统，歼七停产之后不会马上从部队消失，这种生产数量巨大的战机撤装后的空白很大部分要由新的机型来填补，在完成全面换装的过程中，歼七仍然会在国防战备值班的岗位上和在各种科目的训练场上站最后一班岗，为国防建设尽最后一分力。
　　一种战机从诞生到被更新型的战机取代的过程，也是航空兵部队新老交替的过程，飞机型号会一直更替变化，但始终有一些本色的东西会被一直传承和发扬。中心政委刘向东说。

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just a lot of boasting of J-7.

If you zoom in on google earth on Grootfontein base in Central north namibia you can see their new F-7s parked out on the apron.

chipungu said:

If you zoom in on google earth on Grootfontein base in Central north namibia you can see their new F-7s parked out on the apron.

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You must remember that those Google images or any other sattlite images you see on line are 2-5 years old.

Gentleman, where are the Namibian and Zimbabwean F-7 pictures things seem to have gone quiet on the forum?

Photos are rare for those countries - tight controls and I believe just few people with cameras and interest to post them on the net or access to the internet.

I was thinking a couple of days ago of the serial numbers on the AFZ F-7s. I have seen #s 706, 708, 710 and 711. Then the FT-7s are 730& 731 although I believe I have seen 732 in the photo below. That tail marking by the flags looks like 32 and not 31 - correct me if I am wrong.



While the numbering can be meant to confuse, I am somehow tempted by the sources that claim Zimbabwe received over 24 F-7s when I look at the 730, 731 and 732 serials ... ...!!! ... ...??? And it it is 732, it suggest AFZ has at least 3 FT-7s and not two as most sources say.

Another reason why I think it could be true was Zimbabwe displayed K-8s in South Africa serialed 2104E and 2106G on 2005. The numbering suggest the first plane to be 2100A which make 2106G the 7th aircraft and this was 12 months before Zimbabwe announced they were buying a second batch of 6.

chipungu said:

Gentleman, where are the Namibian and Zimbabwean F-7 pictures things seem to have gone quiet on the forum?

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Found this on the Keypublishing forums:




I don't suppose somebody here who speaks Chinese could mail this guy and ask him if he has more?