Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

Deino · May 18, 2020

Arienai said:
This 谢艺航 guy is that famous wall climber in Shenyang so I don't think it's photoshopped... But whether this is the new one is left for debate.

View attachment 60001
Besides the removal of the pitot, there's also coating on the canopy (2.0 doesn't have it)...
View attachment 60002
View attachment 60003

I'm actually leaning towards this is the new one right now... J20 first put coating on the canopy since #2017 and I don't think the older one added the coating later.

Since the pitot has been removed and the coating on the canopy... I guess the external design is basically done so they are going full stealth mode on this one.

I must admit I appreciate Your reply concerning the credibility of the original poster, but since even Wan Quan - IMO a legend in Chinese aviation photography - questions it I'm almost sure, there is something wrong.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1262064131382837250

Otherwise I don't think it is the new one, since there is unlikely a third FC-31 landbased fighter, the next one - if true - will be the carrier variant and that silverish canopy coating, was already visible on the most recent image of 31003, which is nothing but the well known FC-31V2.

Blitzo · May 18, 2020

Deino said:
I must admit I appreciate Your reply concerning the credibility of the original poster, but since even Wan Quan - IMO a legend in Chinese aviation photography - questions it I'm almost sure, there is something wrong.

View attachment 60009

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1262064131382837250

Otherwise I don't think it is the new one, since there is unlikely a third FC-31 landbased fighter, the next one - if true - will be the carrier variant and that silverish canopy coating, was already visible on the most recent image of 31003, which is nothing but the well known FC-31V2.

View attachment 60010

Looking at Wanquan's words, he's basically asking/stating "where has the pitot tube gone".

Without context and without any additional comments made by him I'm not sure if that statement alone can be interpreted as an expression of disbelief against the veracity of that photo. It could just as easily well be a statement of observation that the pitot tube is gone.

stannislas · May 18, 2020

Bltizo said:
Looking at Wanquan's words, he's basically asking/stating "where has the pitot tube gone".

Without context and without any additional comments made by him I'm not sure if that statement alone can be interpreted as an expression of disbelief against the veracity of that photo. It could just as easily well be a statement of observation that the pitot tube is gone.

emm, not really, “空速管擦哪去了”, the verb is "擦", in this context means "erase", so he is asking "where the pitot tube that got erased"

Blitzo · May 18, 2020

stannislas said:
emm, not really, “空速管擦哪去了”, the verb is "擦", in this context means "erase", so he is asking "where the pitot tube that got erased"

Right, but is it meant literally?
I'm not calling it either way, because looking at it closely I can convince myself that it might have been photoshopped away but there's no blatant red flag either.

stannislas · May 18, 2020

Bltizo said:
Right, but is it meant literally?
I'm not calling it either way, because looking at it closely I can convince myself that it might have been photoshopped away but there's no blatant red flag either.

I think so, just from the sentence wise, if I'm asking "where has the pitot tube gone", I would say something like “空速管哪去了”, the word "擦" is actually very specific in this context, and if he is not asking about the "erase", there is no way he put that word in the sentence.

Deino · May 18, 2020

Oh well, you guys are indeed truly amazing and I'm sad since it clearly shows me how much I miss on information - often enough hidden behind the lines - only since I cannot read Chinese.

Arienai · May 18, 2020

stannislas said:
No offense, but whether is guy is a famous wall climber or not doesn't increase any credibility on if this is a PS photo. A lot of these people have a history of releasing PSed photos before.

Let's say this, there are a lot of places in China, cjdby, weibo, and etc., have a very strong tendency of being a fanboy site. Due to some well-known issues, those fanboys like to believe things came out from certain things from certain people, who pretend they know stuff without asking for any shreds of evidence.

Especially on the matter of CAS and 2nd Chinese stealth fighter, there's even conspiracy theory linking these behaviors (hyper FC-31, trash J-20, release rumor on PLA demands on FC-31 every now than then) to CAS stock price and people wish it to be the next JL-9. So until something really concrete comes out, let's just be cool with it, this drama has played for 8 years whatsoever.

Yes I know weibo was a kind of fanboy site but I'm strictly speaking about this guy @9谢艺航6. He's basically the only one that took high quality pictures near Shenyang for years. Which is also why the guy that saw 2.0 in Xian last week @ him in the post that got deleted.

Arienai · May 18, 2020

Deino said:
I must admit I appreciate Your reply concerning the credibility of the original poster, but since even Wan Quan - IMO a legend in Chinese aviation photography - questions it I'm almost sure, there is something wrong.

View attachment 60009

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1262064131382837250

Otherwise I don't think it is the new one, since there is unlikely a third FC-31 landbased fighter, the next one - if true - will be the carrier variant and that silverish canopy coating, was already visible on the most recent image of 31003, which is nothing but the well known FC-31V2.

View attachment 60010

I did saw that 31003 picture but many people have been saying its a photoshop so I didn't take it seriously... (And now it seems like a real one...)

As for Wanquan's reply, honestly I can't tell whether he is joking about the fact that the pitot has been removed or is he calling it out as a photoshop... And yes he did use the word "erase", but it could still be interpreted as a joke... Without knowing the tone he speaks at it really could be interpreted either way... I still trust @9谢艺航6 due to his records over the years.

However I just found this guy is in Xian right now... So now I'm actually leaning towards this is the 2.0 one, they simply removed the pitot on it...

Maybe they did something to the 2.0 in Yanliang this couple of days?

Man it's been so confusing I should just stop judging and wait for more info...

Arienai · May 18, 2020

One thing that's for sure: no matter this pic is 2.0 or the new one, it's definitely not the rumored J35 (or however the carrier variant is called), since the wings clearly can't be folded (which is way I'm leaning towards this is the 2.0 one)... Even for a prototype, the flaps should at least be break into two pieces at where it will be folded for the carrier variant.

Personally I hope this still is the 2.0 cause I've waiting for the good news about the 5th gen carrier jet for so long...

Deino · May 18, 2020

Arienai said:
Maybe they did something to the 2.0 in Yanliang this couple of days?

Man it's been so confusing I should just stop judging and wait for more info...

A good point: Was this image taken at the CFTE at Xi'an-Yanliang or again at Shenyang-Beiling?

Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

Deino

Lieutenant General

Blitzo

Lieutenant General

stannislas

Junior Member

Blitzo

Lieutenant General

stannislas

Junior Member

Deino

Lieutenant General

Arienai

Junior Member

Arienai

Junior Member

Arienai

Junior Member

Deino

Lieutenant General