SinoSoldier
Colonel
This is from April.
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
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This is from April.
I think the accepted consensus for a while now is that s/n 31003 is just the painted "FC-31 V2" airframe that we've known for years?
I.e.:
s/n 31001 is the FC-31 V1 prototype
s/n 31002 is unknown (perhaps a static test frame of some kind that we've never seen)
s/n 31003 is the FC-31 V2 prototype, it just took a few years for it to eventually get painted.
The flying prototypes should probably all have been actively flying in the recent past or perhaps still in active testing -- either in relation to J-XY, or simply because as flying demonstrators it is probably worthwhile to continue to flight test them to gain relevant test data for future endeavors.
At the same time, pictures of the aircraft are all relatively rare, especially for FC-31 V2 that is painted, but I also don't think there should be any doubt that this particular airframe is likely being actively test flown?
I don't think we exactly need pictures to assume that, and while it is nice to have pictures just to keep us on our toes, the big kahuna that everyone is awaiting for is still the first proper J-XY/J-35 prototype, which the flight testing of s/ns 31003 (or 31001 for that matter) doesn't have a smoking gun bearing on.
I.e.:
s/n 31001 is the FC-31 V1 prototype
s/n 31002 is unknown (perhaps a static test frame of some kind that we've never seen)
s/n 31003 is the FC-31 V2 prototype, it just took a few years for it to eventually get painted.
The flying prototypes should probably all have been actively flying in the recent past or perhaps still in active testing -- either in relation to J-XY, or simply because as flying demonstrators it is probably worthwhile to continue to flight test them to gain relevant test data for future endeavors.
At the same time, pictures of the aircraft are all relatively rare, especially for FC-31 V2 that is painted, but I also don't think there should be any doubt that this particular airframe is likely being actively test flown?
I don't think we exactly need pictures to assume that, and while it is nice to have pictures just to keep us on our toes, the big kahuna that everyone is awaiting for is still the first proper J-XY/J-35 prototype, which the flight testing of s/ns 31003 (or 31001 for that matter) doesn't have a smoking gun bearing on.
yep u r right
and seems it’s already ws13 yet
The FC-31 is already equipped with WS-13E engines. The WS-19, its ultimate power plant, is a completely new engine that has a thrust of around 10 tonnes and a thrust to weight ratio 10.
That's a very old image and please; stupid comments with additional images like above are not wanted!
If J-XY/J-35 is based on the j-31 (just like how j-15 is based on su-33), and if PLAAF is not interested on it and only PLAN is, does this mean that recent flights of the prototypes are only paving the way for the j-35 ??
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