From Henri K about the first j20 regiment
First two J-20s deployed on the east coast of China
BY
Since its entry into service, officially announced on February 9, 2018
in a statement from the Chinese Air Force, the question of where the new Chinese fighter J-20 will be sent in the first place is often debated. If some sources close to the program say that the "ram" will first be deployed on the east coast of the country, as we have also supposed in the file " " l Last year, there is nothing to verify it so far.
But with the arrival of the first J-20 at the Wuhu base last Sunday, as reported by several local sources, rumors circulating for some time now seem to be confirmed.
According to this information, the 9th Fighter Squadron, former 9th Regiment of the 3rd Fighter Division, received two J-20 fighters on Sunday 13 January. The aircraft were followed by a Y-20 transport plane, which took with it aeronautical support equipment.
This reception of the first J-20, although unconfirmed by any institutional source at the moment, could explain why HAO Jing Wen (郝井文), commander of the 9th brigade, has been the subject of extensive media coverage since the end of December , following (时代 楷模) by the information department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
The fact that there is no (yet?) Official communication on the subject also means that there is no dissemination of images about the event. But some Internet users have already been able to photograph one of the aircraft near Wuhu, flying over an amusement park located near the 9th Brigade airbase.
A J-20 flying over an amusement park in China, near Wuhu. (Photo: 被 遗忘 的 老 班长)
Indeed, we can see on this image a sign indicating the name of the park called "Fantawild Adventure" (方 特 欢乐 世界). A quick search on his site shows that it is a chain of amusement parks that has been established in ten Chinese cities (Wuhu, Tai'an, Shenyang, Datong, Shantou, Zhengzhou, Zhuzhou, Tianjin, Jiayuguan and Chongqing), including Wuhu.
And the 9th Brigade air base is actually less than 3 km northeast, as the crow flies, from Wuhu Fantawild Adventure Park. This could explain why the J-20 on the amateur photo had his landing gear out.
With more and more fifth-generation foreign aircraft deployed to its environs, such as the first two South Korean Air Force F-35As arriving by March, or the recent purchase of 42 F-35B by Japan to equip its quasi-aircraft carriers, to have equivalent aircraft to defend its East coasts is highly developed economically and demographically seems to be a choice not only judicious, but necessary for the Chinese army.
Wuhu Fantawild Adventure Amusement Park and 9th Brigade Air Base.
The location of Wuhu City in the area.
There is no doubt that the number of J-20 endowed by the 9th briagde should increase steadily, if not fast, at a pace still kept secret for the moment.
As for the next unit of the Chinese army that will receive this new "ram" flying - a word used by some analysts to qualify the aircraft and - it is likely that it is the one based in the northeastern part of China, to be able to face the Korean peninsula and also protect the capital, Beijing. But we should be fixed on the question very soon.
Henri K.
Yes, that would put him on a left downwind leg for a landing on runway "two two",,, guessing on the exact heading of the runway, its customary to fly a "left downwind, prior to turn base, then onto "final approach"... the reciprocal heading if the wind was out of the East would be runway "zero four"!
