PLAN Photos & Videos

Indian navy sailors welcome the Chinese navy soldiers at port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian on May 17, 2014. Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe and missile frigate Weifang arrived in port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian and started a 4-day visit on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

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Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe arrives at port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian on May 17, 2014. Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe and missile frigate Weifang arrived in port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian and started a 4-day visit on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

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Crew members of Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe stand in line as they arrive at port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian on May 17, 2014. Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe and missile frigate Weifang arrived in port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian and started a 4-day visit on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

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China's missile frigate Weifang arrives at port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian on May 17, 2014. Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe and missile frigate Weifang arrived in port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian and started a 4-day visit on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

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Crew members of Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe watch the China's missile frigate Weifang berth in port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian on May 17, 2014.

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Command of China's missile frigate Weifang Han Xiaohu (L) hakes hands with Chinese defense attache Cai Ping at port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian on May 17, 2014.

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Commander of China's missile frigate Weifang, Han Xiaohu (L), receives flowers at port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian on May 17, 2014. Chinese Navy training vessel Zhenghe and missile frigate Weifang arrived in port of Visakhapatnam in east Indian and started a 4-day visit on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

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Homeboy (sailor in the foreground) is sweating! Must be 90+ degrees Fahrenheit out there?

Equation said:

Homeboy (sailor in the foreground) is sweating! Must be 90+ degrees Fahrenheit out there?

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I noticed that also.But you know what? Those 'mates are very squared away.

bd popeye said:

I noticed that also.But you know what? Those 'mates are very squared away.

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Yes they are Popeye.

05.21.2014...PLAN "soldiers" Load weapons aboard a Regiment 8 J-7 Flying Leopard during China -Russian Joint exercise 2014.

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Regiment 8 J-7 Flying Leopards perform their mission during China-Russia Joint exercise 2014

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Regiment 8 J-7 Flying Leopards perform their mission during China-Russia Joint exercise 2014

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This is clearly a JH-7. Somebody mistypes an H?

SteelBird said:

This is clearly a JH-7. Somebody mistypes an H?

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Yep me.. my bad. Often times when I use the translator I have to correct the English..and I missed that one.. sorry!

Aircrew members communicate with ground crew members on China's Zhengzhou missile destroyer, East China Sea, May 22, 2014. Naval ships from China and Russia left Shanghai for the East China Sea to take part in the "Joint Sea-2014" exercise on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

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I served in two helo squadrons.. I don't recall seeing the rotors engaged to wash engines. Interesting.

Crew members wash the engine of a helicopter on China's Zhengzhou missile destroyer, East China Sea, May 22, 2014. Naval ships from China and Russia left Shanghai for the East China Sea to take part in the "Joint Sea-2014" exercise on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

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Crew members work on a helicopter on China's Zhengzhou missile destroyer, East China Sea, May 22, 2014. Naval ships from China and Russia left Shanghai for the East China Sea to take part in the "Joint Sea-2014" exercise on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

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Crew members prepare to put the helicopter into hangar on China's Zhengzhou missile destroyer, East China Sea, May 22, 2014. Naval ships from China and Russia left Shanghai for the East China Sea to take part in the "Joint Sea-2014" exercise on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

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A helicopter enters a hangar on China's Zhengzhou missile destroyer, East China Sea, May 22, 2014. Naval ships from China and Russia left Shanghai for the East China Sea to take part in the "Joint Sea-2014" exercise on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

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China's Zhengzhou missile destroyer leaves a military harbor in Shanghai, east China, May 22, 2014. Naval ships from China and Russia left Shanghai for the East China Sea to take part in the "Joint Sea-2014" exercise on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

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I posted this on the J-15 thread, but believe it also rightly deserves to be here in the PLAN Photos thread too.

All of the numbered J-15s we know of, and one extra.

First the Serial birds, 100-105, then the prototypes 551-556, and the 2-seater:

12 Flying Sharks! In my book that makes a squadron.

And I know the 500 series are prototypes..

Great photo essay Jeff. Thanks for posting!

bd popeye said:

12 Flying Sharks! In my book that makes a squadron.

And I know the 500 series are prototypes..

Great photo essay Jeff. Thanks for posting!

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You are welcome.

Two points:

1) The PLAN has used at least three of those prototype aircraft aboard the Liaoning on many occassions to this point.

2) With the six serial production aircraft, and at least the three carrier-qualified prototypes, the PLAN could do a LOT, and I mean a LOT more pilot and squadron training, qualification, and certification whenever they want to.

I hope, after the Liaoning comes out of her current maintenance period, that we will see the PLAN doing this. A lot more aircraft/pilot trianing, qualification, and certification. I'd love to see the PLAN standing up their first actual squardron of J-15s.