Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

paintgun said:

Just twice, but god knows how many times it flew already

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Can tell me when this second flight was ???? As far as I know so far only one flight was performed and a second was - similar to the J-20 - was only expected about 4 months after the maiden flight ... as such it could be expected after the new year's break !

Deino

Wasn't there a rumor about second flight, that's why Engineer asked the question

Deino said:

Can tell me when this second flight was ???? As far as I know so far only one flight was performed and a second was - similar to the J-20 - was only expected about 4 months after the maiden flight ... as such it could be expected after the new year's break !

Deino

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Some reported seeing a flight the day before yesterday but no photos, too cold to stakeout near the runway.

Chinese forums say a third flight?

AssassinsMace said:

Chinese forums say a third flight?
.....

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Third & fourth at least today.

Can anyone confirm this ??? ... it would be an even higher rate of flights than the J-20.

It has flapperons like F16.

Whoever is responsible for 'flapperons' really should have came up with a better name for them. I mean flapperons, that's only marginally better than 'flappy thingys', marginally...

plawolf said:

Whoever is responsible for 'flapperons' really should have came up with a better name for them. I mean flapperons, that's only marginally better than 'flappy thingys', marginally...

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flaps + ailerons

It is the first plane as stealth with flapperons. The only input must come from PAF.

And with the RD93 it does show a link with PAF. Why would PLAAF go for RD33 or a derivative????

Umm, you will notice that Shenyang has been building Flankers for the last what, 10 years or more? Flanker has flaperons. In fact, i'm pretty sure a lot of Flanker style design solutions must be used or developed from in J-31, it's only logical.

The engines i think it's unanimously expected they are just interim , being replaced by chinese engines in the production version (WS-13?). RD-93s were chosen because they are readily available.

Anyway, i would fully expect J-31 to find it's way into PAF, in fact it will be a big mistake for Pakistan not to buy this aircraft! Doubt the americans will sell Pakistan any F-35s anytime soon, maybe in 2030 or something.