3- as for me, it started to sound like star wars, you know?, “The Empire Strikes again” ? in this case we know “who” the empire is 😀

Camaro.

The “Empire” was testing this rebel craft back in the 1940s

A post in the Chinese language world forum said that the latest variants of the J-8II has increased its range by over a third from 2200km to 3000km. This comes from installment of the new Kunlun II turbojets and the use of new composites and alloys in the airframe. These changes also resulted in a large performance boost with the TWR over unity at combat weights.

Supposedly, testflights of a J-8IIF has already taken place and the take-off, landing and low altitude performance were greatly improved. Some of its maneuvers at the tests simply cannot be performed by the latest in service version the J-8IID.

External differences to the D version is minor. But the weapons fit is expanded including A2G PGMs.

Hmmm, it seems the old assembly lines never die. Unsure if the variants would continue, especially if the J-11B project is successful.

A post in the Chinese-language world forum said the PLAAF (not PLANAF) in has two units in Zhejiang province receiving “Flying Leopards.”

K-8, L-15 maker Hongdu is debuting a new passenger craft.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/07/content_2306399.htm

“Air Car 500” debuts in Nanjing
http://www.chinaview.cn 2004-12-07 22:59:39

NANJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — A five-seat aircraft “AC500” or “Air Car 500” made its first flight in Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province, Tuesday.

Two AC500 aircraft made a 22-minute aerobatics flight.

“The functions are pretty good,” said a veteran pilot surnamed Wang who piloted a AC500, “it’s just as convenient and comfortable as driving a car.”

With independent intellectual rights, the light aircraft was developed by the Nanjing Light Aircraft Company Limited and the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA). It was produced by the Hongdu Aviation Industry Group based in Nanchang, capital of east China’s Jiangxi Province.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China accepted the developer’s application for certification of the new aircraft models and set up a committee to monitor and examine the production and quality of the aircraft in 1998.

The craft currently has two prototypes including a business model and a trainer model with dual control system.

The craft are 10.2 meters in wing span, 8.4 meters long and 5.2 meters high. It can fly 1,000 kilometers non-stop with a maximum speed of 289 kilometers per hour and a maximum flight elevation of 5.5 kilometers.

An efficient and economic vehicle, light aircraft is in use worldwide and the United States alone has about 200,000 light aircraft. The planes are expected to have a large potential market in China, said Pan Jiazheng, general designer of AC500.

The five-seater was designed for a variety of purposes like business travel, scientific experiments and mineral exploration. It can also be used for patrolling, monitoring forests, express delivery, first aid and advertising.

Each AC500 will be priced at 3.6 million yuan (433,734 US dollars), according to Nanjing Light Aircraft Company