Good point, but I think - even in these enlarged cut-outs of all images available against the best J-35-image in-flight I found, I'm simply not sure. I think we need to wait for more.
J-35 carrier fighter (PLAN) thread
- Thread starter Deino
- Start date
Good point, but I think - even in these enlarged cut-outs of all images available against the best J-35-image in-flight I found, I'm simply not sure. I think we need to wait for more.
Now, who can argue against the man that collects the serial numbers!Well, I must admit, I do not fully agree and even if more than clear - even to me- both programs are running on different schedules and are barely comparable in terms of timeline, a comparison "just for fun" is anyway interesting since I indeed expected for such an important program a faster progress:
Anyway, if correct, this is actually the third known prototype even if I won't be surprised if there are already more out ... overall I expect a similar number of prototypes - in fact even more since SAC must expect losses during the trials - if not more than for the J-20 program, where CAC had altogether 6 true prototypes. So if we try to compare both programs and equal the J-20 demonstrators 2001 & 2002 to the FC-31 demonstrators V1 & V2 aka 31001 & 31003, then we could rate the first true program milestone for both the maiden flights of the individual prototypes, namely the first true prototype no. 2011 is comparable to the first J-35 prototype no. 350001 and all subsequent prototypes and so on.
Again, both programs are barely comparable since we do not know the PLAN's schedule, nor the budget, nor anything else and as you always remind me: SAC is different to CAC, namely much more secretive.
J-20:
no. 2011 - March 2014
no. 2012 - July 2014
no. 2013 - November 2014
no. 2015 - December 2014
no. 2016 - September 2015
no. 2017 - November 2015 = 6 prototypes within 20 months ---> service entry December 2016
J-35:
no. 35001 - October 2021
no. 35003 - July 2022 (?)
no. 35005 (?) - September 2023 = so far 3 prototypes within 24 months
Anyway, it will be excieting to see, what's next!
Well, I must admit, I do not fully agree and even if more than clear - even to me
Anyway, if correct, this is actually the third known prototype even if I won't be surprised if there are already more out ... overall I expect a similar number of prototypes - in fact even more since SAC must expect losses during the trials - if not more than for the J-20 program, where CAC had altogether 6 true prototypes. So if we try to compare both programs and equal the J-20 demonstrators 2001 & 2002 to the FC-31 demonstrators V1 & V2 aka 31001 & 31003, then we could rate the first true program milestone for both the maiden flights of the individual prototypes, namely the first true prototype no. 2011 is comparable to the first J-35 prototype no. 350001 and all subsequent prototypes and so on.
Again, both programs are barely comparable since we do not know the PLAN's schedule, nor the budget, nor anything else and as you always remind me: SAC is different to CAC, namely much more secretive.
J-20:
no. 2011 - March 2014
no. 2012 - July 2014
no. 2013 - November 2014
no. 2015 - December 2014
no. 2016 - September 2015
no. 2017 - November 2015 = 6 prototypes within 20 months ---> service entry December 2016
J-35:
no. 35001 - October 2021
no. 35003 - July 2022 (?)
no. 35005 (?) - September 2023 = so far 3 prototypes within 24 months
Anyway, it will be excieting to see, what's next!
I'm confused, is there a reason that we think this is the third J-XY/35 prototype?
I think if we cannot establish the identity of the aircraft, then comparing timelines is a bit premature for now.
Based on what @huitong claims based on several Weibo-posts. I know the third one is not yet confirmed but also not unlikely.
One more photo of the J-35 with the J-16 accompanying. Posted by @伏尔戈星图 on Weibo.
Besides, any idea if we can infer anything from the following comparisons in more detail/clarity? Also posted by the same guy.
View attachment 119384
The claim by him is that the land-based J-35(A?) has wings that are closer towards the rear of the aircraft, while the carrier-based J-35(B?) has wings that are closer to the front of the aircraft. He also alleged that the J-35 that we saw a couple days ago is indeed the land-based variant, i.e. J-35(A?), without pitot tube present.
Besides, any idea if we can infer anything from the following comparisons in more detail/clarity? Also posted by the same guy.
View attachment 119384
The claim by him is that the land-based J-35(A?) has wings that are closer towards the rear of the aircraft, while the carrier-based J-35(B?) has wings that are closer to the front of the aircraft. He also alleged that the J-35 that we saw a couple days ago is indeed the land-based variant, i.e. J-35(A?), without pitot tube present.
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The clarity of the top photo isn’t quite sufficient, but it is sufficient enough that I would say I am 70% confident that it is a land based variant.
The clarity is sufficient that I see the same hump aft of the cockpit (so I am comfortable that it is not an FC-31 version). And from the clarity of the picture, it looks like it might have smaller/different wings and single-wheeled nose landing gear, with no reinforcement bar and catapult hook.
My eyesight isn’t that good though… what do others think/see?
Is this real?
No, the wings are not closer to rear, it's an optical effect created by different deflection angle of the stabiliser.
