FOX and WP are fast!

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/11/chinese-stealth-fighter-makes-test-flight/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011100300.html

from AP.

” A leading expert on the Chinese military says the country’s prototype stealth fighter has made its first-known test flight.

Kanwa Asian Defense magazine editor Andrei Chang said the ….”

one has to be joking right.

This guy is a joke in Chinese internet circles.

couple years ago he said chinese stealth fighter show up in 10 years or something like that and if it did he would stop his publication.

and what he did after the picture came out? he backed out on his word. :rolleyes:

never mind.

Possibly. But China tends to reveal a late project as another is coming into fruition. The multiple engines and finish of the J-20 (every other initial prototype is seen in primer ) show almost certainly that this plane is far more along in its development than something just doing its “first flight.”

There is likely something else being kept secret and under development that allows the J-20 to be revealed and that could be the Chengdu J-XX entry.

Shenyang’s tri-plane proposal for the “heavies” got shot down in the final proposal stage. they would never build two to compete.

Their current manned fighter job is to work the J-11X program to full and carry J-15 onto carriers. they are reworking the lost bid into a twin engine mid large-sized stealth proposal for J-15 replacement. but PLAN hasn’t took the bait yet.

think of their proposal as a cross breed between flanker/super hornet and stealthrized and with a new generation of mid thrust turbofans (think F414 follow ons) smaller than a flanker. actually fairly similar to PAK-FA.

and don’t think CAC is content with its heavies contract and isn’t going after the PLAN’s contract too!

Jan 11th is a special day in Chinese aerospace.

2010 this date was the midcourse intercept shoot down.
2007 this date was the orbital shoot down of that Fengyun satellite :diablo:

I think the Aeronautics side and the whole AVIC organization doesn’t not like their older brethens to steal the show!

I don’t know this is a joke or not…

But the first flight pilot’s name is Li Gang.

Hopefully we’ll see the same kind of blogging when the Shenyang J-XX contestant comes online.

Shenyang’s would never see the light of day… :diablo:

😀

Thanks for the update, I.e!

In my time at AFM since 2003, I saw the J-10 come out, the JH-7A, the FC-1 (I recall live coverage of that one as well), WZ-10 and the J-15. Not to mention the FTC2000 and L-15 and variants like the J-10S and J-10B.

And now the J-20. The volume of projects is absolutely stunning.

You are welcome. honored to be part of this.
who would imagine 10 or 5 years ago that in 2011 China’s stealth figter would have its first flight microblogged!

The best has yet to come. 😀