Just rambling.

First, I of course use on-line translation sites, such as Alta Vista-Babel Fish, Google, and Yahoo!. For example, when local radio news say a ROKAF jet fighter has crashed, I yomp over to Yahoo! South Korea News, and look for maps and photos.
As I don’t understand Korean text (OK, I’m not perfect), I use on-line translation sites, plus Yahoo! Hong Kong/Japan/Taiwan News, for the relevant pilots’ names, place names, and units; as the on-line translation sites tend to translate the Korean text as literally and verbatim.
Sometimes, South Korean and Taiwanese news sites in English might have a concise article or two about a military aircraft crash, on the day after it happens, and that’s it, with minimal details, esp no aircraft serial number.
(Guess how AFM and Scramble mags get all the serial numbers of accident aircraft?)

Second, the Xin Hua news site frequently translates, then cross-posts articles from foreign (incl Hong Kong) mags and news sites, such as Jane’s and Kanwa, esp WRT projects that the Chicom government and PLA don’t admit nor deny; such as the PLA WZ-10 programme, PLAAF J-10 programme, and PLAN aircraft carrier programme; or even the occasional rumoured PLAAF Su-27/Su-30/YF-23 crash here or there.
Thus, when reading a Xin Hua article, beware in the first or second paragraph, whether it says “a named foreign mag says”.

http://news.qq.com/a/20090223/004806.htm
to
http://news.qq.com/a/20090223/004806_5.htm

PLAAF J-10 factory, as seen on CCTV.

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/090224/1/1eze0.html

ROCAF 34th “Black Bat” Squadron. Between 1953 and December 1967, flew 838 sorties into Commie China.
Lost 10 aircraft, and 148 personnel, or 2/3 of the squadron personnel. [IMO, probably counting only pilots and crews.]
Only 14 bodies were recovered in 1992, and returned to Taiwan.

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090301-00000517-san-soci
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090301-00000517-san-soci.view-000

19 February 2009:
US-2. 9903, #03. Amphibious SAR aircraft.
71st Koukuutai, JMSDF.
First mass-production aircraft. 10 billion Yen.
Afternoon, ceremony at Shinmeiwa Kounan factory, Higashinada Ward, Koube City, Hyougo Prefecture, transferred to JMSDF. Will assign to Iwakuni JMSDF AB, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Atsugi JMSDF AB, Dasaitama [?] Prefecture.
Second mass-production aircraft scheduled for February 2010.

[Atsugi is in Kanagawa Prefecture.]

Can land on and take off from sea with 3 m waves. Pressurised cabin for 36 passengers, or 11 beds.
Length, 33 m. Weight, 48 tons.
Maximum height, 5,000 m. Maximum range, 4,700 m. Maximum speed, 580 km. Radius, 1,800 km.
Before end of WWII, Shinmeiwa was Kawanishi!

Photos:
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/policy/090301/plc0903010801005-n1.htm

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090222-00000155-mailo-l35

2009.02.20:
US-2. #03. Amphibious SAR aircraft.
JMSDF.
Assigned to Iwakuni JMSDF AB, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Amphibious SAR aircraft. Successor of US-1A.
Two US-2 already assigned to Iwakuni. Technical and practical tests overlap.
#3 is partly changed design, mass production type.
By year end, #3 will become operational. One of five current US-1A will retire.
Operates total seven of both aircraft types.
US-2 engines powered up. FLIR for night search. Pressurised cabin.
#3 is about 12.7 billion Yen [136,054,424.36 USD].

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-02/19/content_10849055.htm

Brief Xin Hua Net article about Su-27, J-11B, and post-Cold War military intellectual property.
Snore.

http://www.andersen.af.mil/units/copenorth2009/index.asp

“Cope North 09-1”

http://www.andersen.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090204-082.wmv

“F-2 Footage”

JASDF F-2A #525

] Chinese Flankers do not have canards

Can’t say I like the USAF SAC- and TAC-like shield-shape emblems.

Even the Taiwanese emblems seem to have more Chinese characteristics:
http://www.taiwanairpower.org/af/index.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/4995428/Star-Wars-scientists-use-laser-gun-to-kill-mosquitoes-in-fight-against-malaria.html

“Star Wars scientists use laser gun to kill mosquitoes in fight against malaria”

Last Updated: 1:09PM GMT 15 Mar 2009
By Alastair Jamieson

Scientists who worked the Star Wars anti-missile programme in the United States are building a ray-gun than can kill mosquitoes in a bid to tackle the scourge of malaria.

http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=159909

“Northrop Grumman-Built Laser Demonstrates Long-Duration, Lethal Lasing Onboard Airborne Laser Aircraft”

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Feb. 19, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The high-energy laser built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully fired multiple long-duration blasts onboard the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Airborne Laser (ABL) during intensive ground tests concluded Feb. 12.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1738938520090217

“Boeing says Israel eyes new U.S. bomb kit”

Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:45pm EST

Using its own internal research and development funds,
Boeing has begun to look at how the ABL could be used in
air-to-air attack roles and shooting down cruise missiles in
flight, said Patrick Garvey, the project’s director of
business development.

http://www.hlgs.hlc.edu.tw/ann/show.php?mytid=3162&mypartid=&noday=&nopart=&show=&myday=&noyear=&nomonth=&myyear=&mymonth=&usenuke=

18 February 2009:
200+ students and teachers of National Hua Lien Girls Senior High School visited the F-16s at Hua Lien AB, ROCAF.

Can’t seem to find any photo at news sites, and the school official site has only a B&W blurry photo at
http://www.hlgs.hlc.edu.tw/ann/download.php?dpid=6&duid=18&dfn=%AA%E1%A4k200%BEl%AEv%A5%CD%B0%D1%B3X401%C1p%B6%A49802.doc

[Off-Topic Alert]

http://www.recordchina.co.jp/group/g28668.html

Speaking of copying foreign hi-tech vehicles, on 17 February 2009, Bei Jing Daily newspaper reported domestically developed medium low speed mag-lev train will be completed by April 2009. Max speed is 120 km/h.

OTOH, the photos in the article are apparently the high speed, 431 km/h German mag-lev train operational in Shang Hai.