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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9323529%255E29098,00.html

China launches two satellites
From AP
April 19, 2004

CHINA launched two new research satellites into space early Monday, including a 25kg “micro satellite” that scientists heralded as a technological breakthrough, the government said.

A single Long March 2 C carrier rocket blasted off at 11:59 p.m. Sunday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan with the two satellites on board, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

About 12 minutes after liftoff, the carrier rocket first released the 204kg Experiment Satellite 1, which Xinhua described as “China’s first transmission-type small satellite capable of stereo mapping.” Its functions include surveying China’s land resources, the agency said.

Then, 30 seconds later, the rocket released the much smaller Nano-satellite 1, which will be used for high-tech experiments, Xinhua said.

It said the launch made China only the fourth country to launch a “nano” or “micro” satellite, after Russia, the United States and Britain.

Its lighter weight points to a trend toward ever smaller satellites, Xinhua said.

China last year put a human into space – the third country to do so after Russia and the United States – providing massive prestige to the Communist regime and the military-linked space program.

AP

Originally posted by PLA
OK.
About that going supersonic… Was it in the media in China?

Not yet, PLA, I haven’t come across anything said explicitly that it went supersonic. But I’m certain there will be in few days even if it’s a rewrite of the Pakistani report.

Originally posted by vikasrehman
If 03 indeed made its maiden flight on 9 April and FC-1 went supersonic on the same date (flown by PAF pilot) then perhaps it was 01 and not 03.

Regarding this stealth issue, as the project director said to the effect… Although Stealth was not a requirement, the issue was not ignored during its R&D.

Good point and great article from Dawn. There are now two flying ptypes they could test the performance envelope.

He said a number of countries were interested in buying the aircraft. He said the Chinese air force had ordered the aircraft in big numbers.

That is the only way for the FC-1’s project leader to predict 1000 planes. The PLAAF would be taking a good size order 😀

You might be interested in something I’ve just done in the “aviation art” thread 😀