The Q-5, J-7, J-8 and older PLAAF aircraft

i tried getting more info from GE now but airfields with E and G models mostly feature older images. I did manage to find 3 airfbases with recent images. One was the planaf base with j7eh - it had 24 roofed hangars. Nothing else was visible on the base. another was recently formed plaaf brigade with j7e. it had 28 parked j7e at one part of the base and another 5 on the completely other part of the base. it was hard to tell if the five were j7e or jj7. Last one was a regular j7g regiment which had 24 parked planes on one part of the base and again five (5! not 4 or 6) j7 looking planes on the other end of the airbase.

I also ran into an airbase supposedly housing j7e, according to scramble, but a quite recent image from 2012 showed a completely deserted airbase.

Of course, feel free to doublecheck my findings, if possible.

I started doing the same, and found it a bit disappointing, too.

But a good one was of Jiujiang-Mahuiling (29 28 37 N 115 48 06 E), dated 17.10.09, where 31 are counted, all but possibly four being J-7E - recognisable in good quality images by having the double-delta wing (J-7G has it too).

This unit, which was 14S41T, is now 86U at Rugao.

The 24 shelters you mention at Jialai are for H8S22T's J-11BH/BHS. I have seen many pictures of these, but the only GE image I see is very old, 16.02.05, and at that time, of course, there were no J-11. May I enquire how you managed to see imagery of the shelters?

i really didn't do anything special. my GE just showed me images from 2004 and 2010, both with shelters, when i adjusted the image date slider.

But if those shelters are for J11bh, where are the J7eh? why aren't any other planes visible? and what planes were shelters originally constructed for, as there is an image from 2003 where one can see shelters actually being built.

Also, can we now assume that j7 regiment holds 24 combat planes and 4-6 trainer jj7s? And that brigades hold 32 combat planes + 4 to 6 jj7s? Or do we need to inspect more than these 3 airbases to make such conclusions?

According to iFeng.com, on Dec 4, 2012 about 9:00 am local time, a J-7 crashed into residential area in Shantou city, Guangdong province. The crash led to four injured on ground, the pilot ejected safely before the impact.

SteelBird said:

According to iFeng.com, on Dec 4, 2012 about 9:00 am local time, a J-7 crashed into residential area in Shantou city, Guangdong province. The crash led to four injured on ground, the pilot ejected safely before the impact.

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[video=youtube;g_SsMe54HBc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_SsMe54HBc[/video]

I wanted to quoted those photos yesterday, but the forum was just too slow to accomplish that.

I see the report on local media, it seems an engine failure playing a major factor for that after the initial investigation.

Can anyone give a new count of the amount of J-6s(if any), J-7, and J-8s still in service? How long do you guys expect these 3 types of aircraft to remain in service before being completely decommissioned?

Since some of the combat j7 and j8 are fairly new built, just 5 or so old, (plus there are some recce and training variants that are even newer) it is likely we will see both j7 and j8 in service for another 20 or so years. Albeit in ever-dwindling numbers.

j6 aren't in service, as far as i know. there are roughly 200 combat j8 in service plus a few dozen recce variants. There are also some 700+ combat j7 in service plus over a hundred training two seater jj7. It should also be mentioned q5, also an old design, is still in service. some 150-200 combat planes plus several dozen two seater training variants (which are pretty new and could also serve some 20 more years)

Roughly, one could expect some 60-80 of these old planes (total, not of each kind) to be retired each year.

Totoro said:

Since some of the combat j7 and j8 are fairly new built, just 5 or so old, (plus there are some recce and training variants that are even newer) it is likely we will see both j7 and j8 in service for another 20 or so years. Albeit in ever-dwindling numbers.

j6 aren't in service, as far as i know. there are roughly 200 combat j8 in service plus a few dozen recce variants. There are also some 700+ combat j7 in service plus over a hundred training two seater jj7. It should also be mentioned q5, also an old design, is still in service. some 150-200 combat planes plus several dozen two seater training variants (which are pretty new and could also serve some 20 more years)

Roughly, one could expect some 60-80 of these old planes (total, not of each kind) to be retired each year.

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700?! omg.. I know J-7s are good for point defense...but let's be honest, the Chinese airspace will never be invaded ever again. Do they plan to use J-7s to swarm and kamikaze into the enemies? That will be quite a sight, and actually possible to see that reduce enemy air capabilities(by destroying bases)