Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

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kurutoga

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Rumors like this are usually true. I still can't believe either PLAN or PLAAF invest. Let's see the details. I still suspect a foreign investor from GCC team
 
Air Force Brat

Air Force Brat

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siegecrossbow said:
CAC is probably more conservative with regards to material/manufacturing techniques since the Air Force will depend on the J-20 for the next 15-30 years.
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and if I recall, much of the center fuselage/wing junction is welded up Titanium Tub on the J-20 as it is on the F-22! solves many of the cracking issues issues if the center box section is "bullet proof". To much composite or too stringent weight saving can cause issues elsewhere!
 
by78

by78

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SinoSoldier said:
Did he specify the geometry of those tails? V2 tails are swept back while V1 tails are trapezoidal.
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I think by V-tails he meant the vertical stabilizers are canted, as in they form a 'V' in relation to each other. Both existing examples have canted vertical stabilizers. If he indeed saw TWO pairs of YELLOW/GREEN V-tails, then we probably have a new prototype. However, if one of the two pairs is painted BLACK (the color of the original tech demonstrator), then we likely don't have anything new.
 
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siegecrossbow

siegecrossbow

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jobjed said:
The guy said he was driving to work, passed by SAC, and saw 2 pairs of V-tails. He thinks he saw both in yellow primer but it was a very brief glance. There is the possibility that he saw wrong or the other pair of Vs belong to FC-31 v1.0.
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No he specifically mention that the canted stabilizers weren't trapezoidal.
 
SinoSoldier

SinoSoldier

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by78 said:
I think by V-tails he meant the vertical stabilizers are canted, as in they form a 'V' in relation to each other. Both existing examples have canted vertical stabilizers. If he indeed saw TWO pairs of YELLOW/GREEN V-tails, then we probably have a new prototype. However, if one of the two pairs is painted BLACK (the color of the original tech demonstrator), then we likely don't have anything new.
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If the two pairs both had non-trapezoidal/swept-back geometry, then we know there are at least two V2.0 (or beyond) prototypes regardless of color.
 
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