J-35A fighter (PLAAF) + FC-31 thread

[totenchan]

I'd say high G in maneuver makes HMD less useful to useless. HMD is heavier than conventional helmet because it moves lots of electronic circuit from the dashboard to the head. 100 grams is nothing when you expereince no extra G, but would be 600 grams if you are pulling a 6G turn which is quite frequent, it would be near a kilogram if you pull a 9G. This is enough to pin your head on the head-rest with only eyeballs movable. Since the advantage of HMD is the ability to sync the display with your head movement, without head moving HMD becomes meaningless. A HUD on the other hand has all information on the screen to see, you can just move your eye balls. A good example is rollercoaster raid, you should have experienced moments when you can not move your head, that is still low G compared to fighter jet.

HMD will always be heavier than conventional setup, the only thing one can do is to reduce that weight to a tolerable level under a limited G load (less intense combat).

I'm pretty sure you can see the (empty) mounting slots for the head tracking equipment in the J-35 cockpit, and PLAAF pilots do sometimes wear HMD when flying. Maybe the weight is cumbersome in higher G maneuvers, but helmet mounted sights are often mentioned as a pretty big differentiator from pilot interviews with aircraft equipped with them, ex. Eurofighter and F-35 pilots and conversely, an interview with a Rafale pilot I read mentions not having an HMD as a significant disadvantage for the pilot in dogfights. I'd expect the HUD to serve as more of a backup like in the J-20, which we know has a designated HMD.

 

[by78]

A few more high-resolution images from Zhuhai.

 

[Kejora]

J-35 seems to have smaller DAS and EOTS compared to J-20 and F-35, is that because its a less capable version to make it cheaper or because the advance in avionics and electronic systems allow it to be smaller?

 

[Alfa_Particle]

J-35 seems to have smaller DAS and EOTS compared to J-20 and F-35, is that because its a less capable version to make it cheaper or because the advance in avionics and electronic systems allow it to be smaller?

They're the same size?

 

[Kejora]

They're the same size?

No

 

[Alfa_Particle]

No
View attachment 140065

Smaller size ≠ less capable though. That's a very flawed assumption in the age of cramming as much as you can in a tiny space.

 

[oleracea]

Do you think this represents J-35 and J-20 respectively? One being more multirole and the other focuses on A2A

 

[totenchan]

No
View attachment 140065

How sure are we that this comparison is accurate though? We don't have precise measurements for the J-35.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

Been told we might be looking at ≈96 kN and a T/W of around 9 for the WS-21.

Development for the tech demo started in 2008.

 

[FirebirdFan]

Been told we might be looking at ≈96 kN and a T/W of around 9 for the WS-21.

Development for the tech demo started in 2008.
View attachment 140110

At risk of sounding hyperbolic, does this mean that WS-19 may sit above 100 kN?