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

For me I'm partial to the Rafale. It's very difficult to beat her just on looks. She's that 5' 2 petite brunette with just the right curves that looks amazing even in the morning. The YF-23 is pretty also but more like the 5' 11" blonde supermodel with makeup and millon$ hairdo.
As to older generation fighters I would say the P-51 is a beautiful airplane. I also like the DeHaviland Mosquito.

I know it is OT here... but to me... I like the Mig-15 and the F-86 Sabre. Although these planes are totally obsolete in modern warfare... but I couldn't find any aircraft that is as graceful and beautiful as these two planes.

A JL-9G has been developed for training Navy pilots in take-off and landing on the aircraft carrier deck (land-based simulation). In order to adapt to the carrier operation environment, JL-9G features some extensive modifications. They include strengthened landing gears, a tail arresting hook and enlarged wings. Leading edge slaps and leading edge root extensions were installed in order to reduce the take-off and landing speed at higher AOA. It also features a taller tailfin housing additional ECM equipment on the top and offering more stability during the high AOA take-off and landing. New DSIs were installed as well which reduce the weight. New conformal antennas are installed at the wingtips. Due to the installation of the arresting hook the twin ventral stabilizing fins were removed. JL-9G made its maiden flight in 2009 and two prototypes (S/N 423 & 424) are currently being tested at CFTE. The trainer is expected to support the carrier based J-15 fighter. An export version dubbed FTC-2000G multi-role trainer/light attack aircraft was unveiled at the 2012 Zhuhai Airshow. This version features an additional pair of side pylons underneath the fuselage for bombs as well as.

Seems as this old lady can still turn some heads. I still see this aircraft as a good third or second tier aircraft for some air forces. At the very least it would make a good point defense or aggressor aircraft for pilot training.

Miragedriver said:

A JL-9G has been developed for training Navy pilots in take-off and landing on the aircraft carrier deck (land-based simulation). In order to adapt to the carrier operation environment, JL-9G features some extensive modifications. They include strengthened landing gears, a tail arresting hook and enlarged wings. Leading edge slaps and leading edge root extensions were installed in order to reduce the take-off and landing speed at higher AOA. It also features a taller tailfin housing additional ECM equipment on the top and offering more stability during the high AOA take-off and landing. New DSIs were installed as well which reduce the weight. New conformal antennas are installed at the wingtips. Due to the installation of the arresting hook the twin ventral stabilizing fins were removed. JL-9G made its maiden flight in 2009 and two prototypes (S/N 423 & 424) are currently being tested at CFTE. The trainer is expected to support the carrier based J-15 fighter. An export version dubbed FTC-2000G multi-role trainer/light attack aircraft was unveiled at the 2012 Zhuhai Airshow. This version features an additional pair of side pylons underneath the fuselage for bombs as well as.

Seems as this old lady can still turn some heads. I still see this aircraft as a good third or second tier aircraft for some air forces. At the very least it would make a good point defense or aggressor aircraft for pilot training.

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Why would a carrier trainer need additional ECM equipment and more conformal antenna?

You don't need an carrier capable aircraft for aggressor training.

Sounds to me like someone is refusing to see the writing on the wall and is still hoping against hope to win some orders from the Chinese navy despite the availability of vastly superior domestically developed alternatives.

Maybe an artifact of low interest rates and too much easy credit?

Just kidding.

chuck731 said:

Why would a carrier trainer need additional ECM equipment and more conformal antenna?

You don't need an carrier capable aircraft for aggressor training.

Sounds to me like someone is refusing to see the writing on the wall and is still hoping against hope to win some orders from the Chinese navy despite the availability of vastly superior domestically developed alternatives.

Maybe an artifact of low interest rates and too much easy credit?

Just kidding.

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Hmmm.... aren't those the specs for the FTC-2000G, the export version (possibly single-seat).

Looks like Guizhou is trying to win foreign orders for this last-gasp MiG-21/J-7.

Good Luck I say.

I could very well be that the Mig-21/J-7/JL-9/FTC-2000 has come near the end of its evolutionary cul-de-sac. Too bad, since it has become an attractive aircraft. Unfortunately attractive aircraft don’t win air to air combat.

Unless it’s against other 2nd or possible 3rd generation aircraft.

My favorite jet fighter by looks from 20th century... Saab 35 Draken.

adeptitus said:

My favorite jet fighter by looks from 20th century... Saab 35 Draken.

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What about the Mig analog? The bastard child of the MiG-21 and the Mirage III.

Miragedriver said:

I could very well be that the Mig-21/J-7/JL-9/FTC-2000 has come near the end of its evolutionary cul-de-sac. Too bad.

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The Mig-21 has been an amazing aircraft. No longer so much in its ability to stay with the modern aircraft in battle. But its history is just amazing.

By far and away the most produced jet fighter in history. Well over 11,000 of them produced in all.

By comparison, the F-16, which (along with the F-4) is the most produced fighter from the west was produced in numbers closer to 5,000.

The Mig-21 has been in operation since 1959, coming up on 55 years. It's fierce competitors back in the day, the F-8 Crusader and then the F-4 Phantom had their own very long histories. All of these aircraft were amazing for their day.

The F-8 (1,200 produced, started service in 1957) went out finally with the French in 2000. The F-4 (also about 5,000 produced, starting service in 1960) is still flying with Greece, South Korea, Turkey and Japan.

To those 11.500 russian/czech/indian examples one may add the 1590 (or so) chinese produced J7. That number doesn't include the jj7 trainer, so another 200 or so of those could easely be added. Figures courtesy of scramble.nl. Overall mig21 and its derivatives figure may be over 13.000 airframes.