GoldenDragonCould be. But they replaced those ifr probes forward? It is not the same location as the previous ones…
Actually, there wasn’t one on pictures of the first prototype. But there was one on the mockup at the last Zhuhai airshow.
GoldenDragonCrobato, you should know by now the Erez is a robot programmed to say the same thing about the Lavi everytime a new J-10 picture pops up 😉
GoldenDragonThe Embraer 190 series is more than a match to the Russian civil industry that currently stands behind Brazil in the civil arena and avibras will grow to become a more powerful competitor to Embraer therfore improving Embraer
People forget just how large and competent the Brazilian aviation industry is. As far as selling profitable airplanes to the civil market, Embraer is not only more than a match, it is far ahead of Sukhoi or any other Russian manufacturer for that matter. The Embraer 145, 170 and 190 lines are becoming dominant platforms in their space.
According to the most recent articles, the ERJ-145 series alone had sold over 800 and has a backlog of several hundreds more.
This is not peanuts. So the Brazilian government is absolutely right in protecting Embraer’s share of the world’s market. Money paid to Sukhoi would fund the RRJ as Seahawk and others said. The Su-35 is nice to have but not critical for Brazil’s safety. And over time, there is no reason an industry that has produce platforms like the ERJ-145 and AMX would not be able to develop their own fighters.
GoldenDragonThe inflight refueling probe means those are JL-9s (the rear half looks like JJ-7s.) I thought there were only two prototypes so far but there are three here.
Good post Hyper!
GoldenDragonInteresting article got from http://www.defesanet.com.br
Elections and Nationalistic Appeal
KLÉCIO SANTOS
Agência RBS/BrasÃlia
[email]klecio.santos@zerohora.com.br[/email]Brazilian Government nationalist appeal is influencing the brazilian air force (FAB) modernization plans. Upgrade of old tactical aircraft AMX A-1, FAB will cost US$ 400 millions, for 53 units, but the spending will create jobs in the country, in the Mectron, São José dos Campos (SP), Aeroeletrônica( owned by israeli ELBIT), Porto Alegre (RS), responsible by radar and avionics production to be used in the aircraft upgrade. Also jobs at new Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto(SP). This decision recover a domestic military project, not being considered spend in new aircrafts.
AMX modernization indicates the nationalist way for another military tender, supersonic fighters F-X, replacing for obsolete Mirage III, a buy estimated to cost US$ 800 millions. One Air Force source confirmed yesterday that president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is thinking to advance the decision on F-X Program and call the National Defence Council ( Conselho de Defesa Nacional) for early september, before the municipal elections of 3rd October. A victory of Embraer leaded consortium ( Mirage 2000BR) would be very welcomed by candidates linked to the government, specially the Workers Party ( PT).
By the way a decision giving the victory to Embraer would be the only way to the government, that always promessed reequip Armed Forces and at same time increment national industry. Air Force members state that if this solution was not possible, only way is to follow ahead with a plan B: cancel the tender and buy used fighter in the international market, a solution that sound patriotic since the scarcity of resources.
In favour of Embraer the Pentagon decision to choose a consortium where the company is member to supply the next generation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircrafts for US Army and US Navy.
Nothing wrong with home contracts that would help the nation aviation industry. Remember, Sukhoi, Airbus and Deneral Dynamics were build on their national orders.
It would be different if Brazil was facing a threat and needed better planes to protect itself instead of using the home product.
But Brazil faces no major threat. In fact, the Su-35 would cause an arms race by throwing things out of kilter.
The AMX upgrade does two things: 1) it is more than adequate to protect Brazil and 2) it allows Embraer to advance.
GoldenDragonOn the subject of CFTE (China Flight Test Establishment), there was a recent report that the center is undergoing expansion and reorganization after a year (2003) which was “anxious, difficult and heavily dangerous” because of so many new machines and projects. (This almost certainly didn’t even include the FC-1 and JL-9/FTC2000 projects which are still in development and flown by test pilots associated with Chengdu and Guizhou respectively.)
Report was non-specific on the projects.
But CFTE projects in the past year and a half probably include the J-10 single seat, J-10 two-seat (probably), the JH-7A, J-7G, Y-8F400 and probably a series of other Y8 variants, Ma60-100 and Y-7 derivatives, JL-8 with new WS-11 engines, J-11 with WS-10A and J-8IIH and other variants.
GoldenDragonA screen capture from a CCTV show on the CTFE.
It shows what looks like a laser-guided bomb next to one of the new JH-7As at the test center (arrow points to a tail painted in the blue stripe paint pattern of two new CFTE JH-7As shown in other photos.)
GoldenDragonThanks for the news, Crobato. The Be-103 is an interesting lvehicle.
Talking about amphibians, the SH-5 is actually a Frankenstein cousin of the Y8 😀
The SH-5’s wing and engine ensemble comes directly from the early Y8.
GoldenDragonA rare photo of a J8D refueling with a H6U.
GoldenDragonThe Y8F600 is a civilian version right? The Y8-X is sopposed to be the military version, do we got an idea when that will be developed?
From P&W and Dowty (who will supply the new six-blade propellers), the Y8F600 is expected to get certification by the end of 2005 with service entry by 2006. (1)
Sales of the Y8F600 is expected to be 120 plus.
Timetable given for commercial aircraft are usually far more reliable because companies need to plan ahead on raising cash, crew and resources in buying planes. Any delay and they look elsewhere.
Also China needs to have a product for its own fast-growing cargo transport market (2) as well as the world’s. (3)
The Y8X and Y8F600 are not exactly the same program. The Y8F600 probably shares more with earlier Y8s for quick development (certification by next year would be VERY fast for a brand new plane.)
The Y8X is a military program so it is possible that there would be more differences since the timetable is not as tight.
Also because there are many ongoing AEW/electronic surveillance projects like the Y8E and and Y8MPA already on based on the earlier Y8C and it is possible that the Chinese military might continue with the earlier versions for a while for maintenance commonality.
So the 2006 date is for the Y8F600 but not necessarily for the Y8X.
———————————————————————–
Notes
(1) http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_March_20/ai_98996642
“Dowty Propellers, a part of Smiths Aerospace, has been awarded a contract by the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation and the Shaanxi Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., Ltd to provide a modern technology all-composite propeller system for the re-engined Y8F600 civil freighter aircraft. This 4-engined aircraft is to be powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW150B turboprop engine. The contract is worth approximately $160m over the life of the program. More than 120 aircraft are expected to be delivered during the first 20 years following aircraft certification. Flight test hardware is to be delivered to Shaanxi Aircraft Industry in Spring 2004 with aircraft certification at the end of 2005 and Entry into Service in early 2006.”
(2)China’s cargo plane market revs up
http://english.people.com.cn/200310/07/eng20031007_125488.shtml
“China’s rapid economic development and its strategy to develop its vast western areas have created an enormous demand for cargo aircraft.
It is predicted that air cargo transport in China is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 16 to 18 per cent for the coming decades.
China’s traditional air cargo transport, which usually relies on passenger planes, is no longer meeting the demand, said Cao Qing, head of the manufacturing division of the China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II).
“The industry needs specialized cargo transport fleets,” Cao said. “
(3)
“More than 2,000 cargo aircraft in operation internationally, including C-130s and Russian Antonov An-12s, will soon reach the end of their operational lifespan.
The removal of these aircraft, especially in Asian and African countries, will create a great opportunity for us to expand our market share, Cao said. “
GoldenDragonA look at the new Z11 in PLA colors
GoldenDragonNot technically a turboprop, the cute piston-engined ancestor of the Y12, the Y11.
GoldenDragonThe Y8F600
GoldenDragonPosted by Santa at CMF –
The Taksin in Shanghai
A closer look at Saiburi‘s C-801 cannisters
GoldenDragonOh I’m aware of all the political issues before and after Tianamen Square, I’m just saying that it’s obviously a credible design, so why not revive it now in an updated form, if only for military use IE AWACS, Tanker, etc? For that matter they could have done that in the first place, whether they were buying Western airliners or not.
The problem with building the plane just for the military was that Shanghai Airplane itself was involved with the MD-80/90 project. In fact, 219 members of the Y10 team signed a petition protect the Y10 in view of the upcoming McDonnell-Douglas tie-up in 1984.
In order to make space at Shanghai for the MD-80 assembly lines they tore down the Y10’s. There was simply no place to continue the Y10.
If there were more political support maybe they would have transferred the line to Xian or Shaanxi.
But the simple truth was the Chinese basically gave up the Y10 after 130 flights because in the early 1980s they believed that they would end up with American designs, for both civilian and military. (They probably would have if 1989 never happened.)
As far as bringing back the Y10, the ARJ21 is a step in that direction again for Shanghai Airplane (though the ARJ21 looks more like the MD-80/90 which also had a rather interesting political history at Shanghai.)
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