Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

FC-31. I thought the display model for v2.0 has IRST/OST/EOTS window below the fuselage, which looks like F35, and maybe the same as J-20. But the prototype did not have any such things, not even a forward IRST. Any thoughts? (EDIT: see attached)

kurutoga said:

FC-31. I thought the display model for v2.0 has IRST/OST/EOTS window below the fuselage, which looks like F35, and maybe the same as J-20. But the prototype did not have any such things, not even a forward IRST. Any thoughts? (EDIT: see attached)

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those little goodies can come at any point before production, remember the initial J-20's 2001 and 2002/2004.

Deino said:

Indeed I'm tensed !

To admit these constant off-topic posts - and this is only a small ot-conversation - are only the tip of an iceberg. Just look at how many posts are "reported" and honestly I feel alone here in the wilderness.

The new moderators are still not installed, I still can only beg and delete and Webby does not respond to any of my mails or conversation-attempts since weeks ... it's a mess.

Besides that I'm preparing the final Chemistry-exam and work on three books in parallel.

Indeed, it's my fault, all mine but I'm indeed quite tensed.

Deino

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I'm sorry Deino, I even PMed Webby on your behalf, and asked for some back-up, no response here either, hang in their Buddy, you can only do, what you can do,, I've been kind-of a jerk lately with my two house projects along with the rest of our crazy life, but Baxie is a first year nursing student and made an A on her Chemistry test, thanks to tutoring from her teacher,,,don't give up the ship brother!

and we are with you! Webby Brother???

Factory image of FC-31 2.0 from a CCTV documentary on J-15.

siegecrossbow said:

Factory image of FC-31 2.0 from a CCTV documentary on J-15.

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I think you mean 1.0. The tails are not cropped like the ones on the 2.0.

jobjed said:

I think you mean 1.0. The tails are not cropped like the ones on the 2.0.

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Great catch. I assumed that it was a 2.0 due to the primer lol. Looks like the footage is a lot older than I first thought.

Larger screen captures from a Chinese TV segment...




The segment also provided a tiny bit more information on the current state of 3D-printing in the Chinese aerospace industry. 3D-printing was first introduced or experimented with in 2003. Further breakthroughs in this field have resulted in a significant reduction in aircraft structural weight, now down to 26.8% of total empty weight on an unnamed Shenynang aircraft project.





Here's the original video:

by78 said:

The segment also provided a tiny bit more information on the current state of 3D-printing in the Chinese aerospace industry. 3D-printing was first introduced or experimented with in 2003. Further breakthroughs in this field have resulted in a significant reduction in aircraft structural weight, now down to 26.8% of total empty weight on an unnamed Shenynang aircraft project.

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I'm sorry, what?? Reduced weight by 26.8% or down to 26.8%?? Cus the former means making a 20 ton aircraft 15 tons but the latter means making a 20 tons aircraft 5 tons LOL. Can't be the latter... The Chinese screen capture only says "We have reached 26.8%..." and the rest is cut off.

Really glad to see this, by the way. This would reinforce the 15 tonne class figure given for J-20 since a 21 tonne aircraft reduced by 26.8% would be 15.37 tonnes.

manqiangrexue said:

I'm sorry, what?? Reduced weight by 26.8% or down to 26.8%?? Cus the former means making a 20 ton aircraft 15 tons but the latter means making a 20 tons aircraft 5 tons LOL. Can't be the latter... The Chinese screen capture only says "We have reached 26.8%..." and the rest is cut off.

Really glad to see this, by the way. This would reinforce the 15 tonne class figure given for J-20 since a 21 tonne aircraft reduced by 26.8% would be 15.37 tonnes.

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It says it reduces structural weight. I doubt we will know what percent of the empty weight is sturctural. Things like canopy, tires,computers, wires etc wont be reduced by 3d printing. Its nice to know the weight is reduced by new tech but it doesnt really let us figure out what the empty weight is. we have to wait untill we get some official specs.

In a way, SAC's headway in lightweight composites are somewhat mitigating China's lack of powerful turbofan engines.