I feel they are doing some testing with the engines before a full fledged flight test. We all know that the PLAAF wants near perfection before any public flight test.
The test in Janruary was the "public" flight test though... Before that they were taxiing the plane on the runway most likely to test the engines out, and they had two prototypes with the Al-31 equipped one most likely testing to see if it could fly and then the WS-1X one for the "public" test for a bit more national prestige/show off to the military/political leaders who had went to see.
I also feel the first test was just a show for the World to see that China has a 5th generation in development. Based on what we saw the test in my opinion was rushed. Just my opinion.
Fair enough, but I think that opinion is a bit skewed. I mean the PLA hardly ever likes to show off what they have in development, but they knew it was going to get out eventually so may as well make the plane look good in its first test and try to spook a defense secretary or two.
(Assuming that test was the first) I don't think it can be called rushed -- the PAK FA flew for a similar amount of time with landing gear down for its maiden flight. But again I feel the need to emphasise the flight test we saw was probably not the first and was merely the unofficial "disclosure". There were probably numbers of taxiing and a test flight or two of both 2001 prototypes to make sure everything worked on the big day of the public "disclosure".
