Re: JH-7/JH-7A Thread
for a strike fighter, the JH7 is a very conventional design for a lots of people. But for Chinese defence industry, and for the PLAAF, PLANAF, the JH7 is the first jet design that went away from the influence of Russian roots. There were a lots first on the JH7 for the Chinese ( first FBW jet designed and build in China, first jet for the Chinese with turbofan engine, first jet designed largely from the aid of computers). From JH7's first fly in 1988 till today with JH7A, they have steadily improved this jet to a point that the JH7A is both lighter ( therefore longer range) and a lot deadlier than the JH7. From test pilots reports that I have read, the JH7 is not much a fighter at all, too heavy, turn too slow, not enough power for most of the ACMs. but on the plus side, they rated this jet as very stable, very predictable in flight, good fuel economy( as compared to J7B I guess). So far I have not seen JH7 pilots with HMS, but I am sure the PLAAF and PLANAF can get these for the JH7 pilots if they want to. About 4 years ago, there was a news article in one of the major Japanese newpapers about a retired JSDF pilot who flew F4J off their Okinawa base, he remembered one day he and his wingman flew a pair of F4Js over the East China sea and met a pair of JH7's ( it has to be around year 1998-99, I think). He said that he was surprised how aggressive these PLANAF JH7 pilots are, the JH7 came straight at them ( F4j) at very high speed and together they have some close fun, then the F4J were bingo fueled and had to return base, and he said the JH7s did not seem want to end the fun( the diffeerence between a turbojet VS turbofan). So from this report, we can expect the JH7 can hold their own against a not so agile fighter ( in this case, a F4).
we have all seen the back seat of the JH7A, the layout sure is modern and a beauty for my eyes. I have not see the pictures of the front seat, but judging from the backseat, the front should not be that bad either.
