J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread IV (Closed to posting)

[Air Force Brat]

Just to add, them deploying the missile rail is the first step to weapons integration trials. We are still a while off, but I would not be surprised if the next time we sell these rails, they got AAM dummies attached.

I also wonder if leaving the rail out on landing was intentional or not. It seems like an unnecessary thing to do/test, and even if they wanted to test the aerodynamics, surely they would start with both rails deployed instead of just one. The only reason to land with one rail deployed would be to test how the plane would handle in the event one of the rails jam/fail and cannot be retracted.

Maybe that was what they were testing, but it just seem like such a minor detail to test at this early stage of development.

Right now, I am leaning more on the possibility the test pilot simply forgot the rail was deployed after tests, which would indicated that the aerodynamics impact on deploying the rails are very minimal.

Test Pilots don't forget, there is protocol for every test, studied written, results expected and on the knee board in sequence, NOTHING is deployed, poped, extended or retracted without a protocol, and possible continginces in case things do not go as planned. Beside that test pilots are analytical creatures, able to "take apart" performance and give meaningfull feedback to the flight test engineers.
2001 and 2002 are test mules, hope they both survive all these processes, and that goes triple for the tallman and all his brother test pilots, hopefully when they are done every possible configuration and "gray area" will have been explored, and aircraft flown and reflown to confirm their observations, then and only then will the Dash-1 be written and finalized. Many or all are likely "engineers", along with their many other talents, flying is something that is likely second nature to them, their primarly mission is observation and evaluation, each and every hop. Brat

 

[Air Force Brat]

Speaking on behalf of the many here that are neither professional or enthusiasts regarding Aero Engineering and Project Development, would those of you that are, be so kind as to help the rest of us understand the general arguments by producing a schedule of the development process by which a modern Military Aircraft is produced and tested and the typical time scale of each phase.

Thanks

Well I am only the Air Force Brat, no expert, but flight test is very methodical almost boring process, and of course engines and airframe are the first things to be tested and a basic flight manual written, with all the check lists and V-speeds, how the airframe responds to various and sundry configuration changes, at some point we will likely see the pylon for the spin-chute and they will begin slow flight and high AoA testing, various tweaks and sorting of the FBW is basic and important to this whole process. That will likely not be concurrent with the top end of the flight envelope..... once the airframe and engines are fully sorted, then and only then will weapons and deploying weapons be explored and procedures and manuals written.

I would add that the J-20 is a very smart aeroplane, the FBW actually flies the aircraft as the pilot inputs control movements, and the whole time he is making observations, the aircraft itself is recording, processing, telemetry, etc etc, ie for example the joystick is allowed to proceed back to center, the aircraft will make whatever control surface deflections to bring the aircraft to a steady state, where it will maintain straight and level or a 22degree left bank or 33 degree right bank etc, ad infinitum... If you will look at some of my early posts, I noted that they were flying the J-20 a lot for a flight test program, something I believe now that they were logging LOTS of data as the J-20 is a very unique configuration, designed to exploit both the low end and top end of aircraft performance. NOW they are slogging through all that data, in it is a tedious process, that will make us fanboys rather impatient to say the least!

If you will check the flight test protocol for the LockMart F-35 much of this will be out in the public sector now, delays and going back and fixing things are perfectly normal for this time, much has been made of the delays, BUT------this is because LRIP and Flight Test are being conducted "concurrently" to save both time and money, and yes it does, unless some major rework becomes mandated. I'm sure others will chime in, but hopefully this will answer some general questions or concerns??? Brat

 

[Engineer]

nice model. Although, i think there are too many sequences in the simulation.

Instead of Open>toggle>close>fire>open>toggle>close, it should be Open>toggle>fire>toggle>close. the longer the bay and the missiles are exposed, the more the aircraft is exposed to conventional radar.

When SRAAM is used, the aircraft is already in WVR engagement where having low RCS is completely meaningless. So, I think your concern is misplaced.

 

[plawolf]

I have always wondered if spin chutes are necessary for planes like the J10 and J20 which have integrated break chutes. I certainly cannot recall any J10 pictures with spin chutes attached.

 

[Air Force Brat]

I have always wondered if spin chutes are necessary for planes like the J10 and J20 which have integrated break chutes. I certainly cannot recall any J10 pictures with spin chutes attached.

I had asked the same question earlier, to which the Eng replied that the braking chutes were not stressed to carry that kind of load, and I believe he posted a picture of a J-10 with a spin chute???? Eng??

If you look at the spin chute on the F-35 it is quite substantial, I believe it weighed quite a lot and was welded on???? Brat

 

[siegecrossbow]

Does anyone have a clearer copy of this image?

This was taken at Zhuhai last year and Assassinmace linked it here. Both the main and side weaponsbays are open. Can anyone tell whether the side-bay configuration is an accurate representation of what we've seen so far?

If so the model-maker could've leaked the design a lot earlier than we anticipated.

 

[delft]

Test flying was not yet boring in the 'fifties and 'sixties. Read the comments of test pilot Bill Bridgeman on other test pilots in his memoir "The Lonely Sky". But he still died during a "routine test flight" in 1968. See also

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.

 

[Quickie]

I believe, in the case of the J-10 pic we saw, the spin chute was only used during the prototype testing phase when the aircraft was pushed to the limit of its flight regime and in danger of stalling and spinning.

The way the spin chute is anchored to the aft of the J-10 is different from that of the brake chute. From what I can remember, there were at least three anchor points, at a distance from each other, at the aft of the aircraft to prevent spinning as opposed to the single anchor point of the brake chute.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Seems like the latest Battlefield game will feature J-20:

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[Engineer]

I have always wondered if spin chutes are necessary for planes like the J10 and J20 which have integrated break chutes. I certainly cannot recall any J10 pictures with spin chutes attached.

Imgur; J-10; spin chute; test flight;