Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

ougoah said:

The more we think about it, the more it smells like bs. Having said that, J-31 is in desperate need of better worksmanship to match J-20 and do justice to the shaping Lockheed Martin engineers so kindly surrendered

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So Ace, when and where were YOU personally hands-on with the FC-31 proof of concept aircraft?? and for your information those Sino-Flankers are a hell of a lot slicker than the Russian birds, and yes, I have been very up close and very personal with a couple of Mig-29s, if you look down the flanks of SUKHOI's SU-35 demo bird 08, she's just rather wavy..

So the FC-31 is a proof of concept aircraft, as such it is a pieced together, one off airplane built to show form, function, and basic capability, it is not a reflection of SAC's build quality, and they are very capable of turning out very slick aircraft, look at the J-15's, very pretty, straight, well built aircraft, likely a much higher "pride of workmanship" displayed than those mass produced Russian Sukhoi's and Mig's,,, which are very effective, as evidenced by China buying the SU-35,, (OVT the number ONE reason, avionics likely the second, capability NOW the third)??

So apologies if you think I'm picking on you, just sticking up for a fine airplane....

I don't think the Russian workers would have any less pride than their Chinese counterparts. The waviness we see on even modern Migs and Sukhois are down to manufacturing ability. It's quite impressive to see CAC manufacture to the level shown in J-20's surface. From J-10A and J-10B to J-20 is quite an achievement for them. I'm sure SAC will benefit from those abilities if J-31 is ever inducted. Actually that is just a matter of cost. But cost reduction is a key factor for engineers. Nothing says Su-57 isn't a true stealth fighter than the poor surface detail afforded to it by its designers. It's not that they can't do it, just that it costs too much to employ. No point when the rest of the design falls short here and there.

A recent publication titled "Aerospace Analysis (Fourth Edition)" from Beijing Aerospace University Press referred to the FC-31 as the "J-31". According to another netizen, six months ago a book jointly written by the China Association for Science and Technology and Aviation Association also referred to the fighter as the "J-31".

Original posts:

SinoSoldier said:

A recent publication titled "Aerospace Analysis (Fourth Edition)" from Beijing Aerospace University Press referred to the FC-31 as the "J-31". According to another netizen, six months ago a book jointly written by the China Association for Science and Technology and Aviation Association also referred to the fighter as the "J-31".

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I don't think we should read too much into this book. It is not a crime for an academian to "mistakenly" use an unofficial designation of an ongoing research project. A book calling it FC-31 does not mean it is not endorsed by PLA, calling it J-31 by the book does not mean it is going to enter PLA service either.

It is actually not even an issue if PLA is not interested for the moment. SAC's outcome belongs to the state therefor the PLA, whenever PLA finds FC-31/J-31 interesting, they will just pick it up.

ougoah said:

So far just more flanker copies (nothing wrong with them like Israelis copied Mirages because the Mirage was a fantastic fighter then) and Lockmart copies.

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Wait....there are still people in 2018 who believe the story that the Israeli's actually copied the Mirage....even with the info out there, as well as a bit of common sense reflection of the actual task involved?

wilhelm said:

Wait....there are still people in 2018 who believe the story that the Israeli's actually copied the Mirage....even with the info out there, as well as a bit of common sense reflection of the actual task involved?

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Hi,

Am I missing something or are you saying that the Israelis own claim that they stole the Mirage blue prints from a storage facility in Switzerland decades ago is false---or are you talking about some other mirage---.

MastanKhan said:

Hi,

Am I missing something or are you saying that the Israelis own claim that they stole the Mirage blue prints from a storage facility in Switzerland decades ago is false---or are you talking about some other mirage---.

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Israel was founded in 1948.
In Jan 1969 the French put an embargo on Israel, including the Mirage 5 ordered by Israel.
Magically, a country established only 21 years previously, with very little industrial base, flew their first unlicenced copy of a Mach2 fighter, the Mirage 5, called the IAI Nesher, in Sept 1969, 8 months later?
IAI's previous experience consisted of assembling French manufactured and supplied a few Fouga Magister kits, an extremely simple and pedestrian trainer not even equipped with ejection seats.

It's amazing what some people believe.

The Nesher was French manufactured and supplied. Assembled in Israel. With full Dassault support.
The Kfir had large portions also built and supplied by France, and required US help to design the changes needed for, and to integrate the J79.
The Kfir airframe at the museum in Israel still has (or had until recently) a French manufacturing plate visible.

Sorry for the thread drift.

It has been reported that, on April 19, a loud "sonic boom" was heard over Shenyang. This led people to suspect that another FC-31 flight test had been conducted, while some go so far as to claim that a new type of aircraft had been tested.

SinoSoldier said:

It has been reported that, on April 19, a loud "sonic boom" was heard over Shenyang. This led people to suspect that another FC-31 flight test had been conducted, while some go so far as to claim that a new type of aircraft had been tested.

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Heh!, Heh!, you should know sonic booms can be good?? or bad???

wilhelm said:

Israel was founded in 1948.
In Jan 1969 the French put an embargo on Israel, including the Mirage 5 ordered by Israel.
Magically, a country established only 21 years previously, with very little industrial base, flew their first unlicenced copy of a Mach2 fighter, the Mirage 5, called the IAI Nesher, in Sept 1969, 8 months later?
IAI's previous experience consisted of assembling French manufactured and supplied a few Fouga Magister kits, an extremely simple and pedestrian trainer not even equipped with ejection seats.

It's amazing what some people believe.

The Nesher was French manufactured and supplied. Assembled in Israel. With full Dassault support.
The Kfir had large portions also built and supplied by France, and required US help to design the changes needed for, and to integrate the J79.
The Kfir airframe at the museum in Israel still has (or had until recently) a French manufacturing plate visible.

Sorry for the thread drift.

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Hi,

The world believes it---but you have put out some interesting points---.