商飞C919“铁鸟”试验台投入使用

　　这是位于中国商飞上海飞机设计研究院内的C919“铁鸟”试验台（12月30日摄）。 12月30日，国产大型客机C919“铁鸟”试验台在中国商飞上海飞机设计研究院投入使用，这标志着C919系统验证工作正式启动。 “铁鸟”试验台全称为“飞控液压系统综合试验台架”，是飞机系统综合、优化设计、适航取证和交付运营、持续适航的关键试验设施。裴鑫 摄 图片来源：新华网

via BING !

COMAC C919 “iron bird” Tester put into use

This is located within COMAC Shanghai aircraft design and Research Institute of the C919 “iron bird” Tester (photo by, December 30). On December 30, the Chinese C919 large aircraft the “iron bird” Tester put into use in China’s COMAC Shanghai aircraft design and Research Institute, which marks the C919 system validation work was officially launched. The “iron bird” Tester called “flight control hydraulic system test-bed”, is an integrated, optimized design, aircraft systems deliver operations, airworthiness and continued airworthiness of the key experimental facilities. Pei Xin photo source: Xinhua

Me thinks you are right. I think flateric said they are also quite interested in a 3D-TVC AL-31F (M2/3?) for the J-20.

PS: J-10B just entered service and is said to have a “higher thrust” AL-31FN. Any idea whether its the AL-31FN-M1 or M2?

The at best based on the M1 … since the M2 is – at least following my source in Russia ! – still under test.

Deino

Forgive the dumbness but what am I looking for in the pics?

Sorry to be so mysterious ! The image was posted yesterday at the Top.81-Forum (at least there I found it).

IMO it shows a slightly modified / photoshoped image and black&white negative photo of the third flying prototype.
There have been rumours since some weeks about that bird, which should feature some modifications like on the tail, radome, …

Since that image was reportedly taken by Goneless, who is well known to be quite reliable there is at least a slight hope that this is indeed the third prototype. To admit I also asked myself why the contrast between fuselage and radome is so extreme and why some panel-lines are clearly visible while others not … IMO this is indeed an image, that was heavily doctored of an unpainted prototype.

As such I think we have to wait but come on … unveil that thing !

Yes, MiG-29 is correct with the YF-23-style configuration … these are the currently studied ones:

By the way regarding the FB-22-like design I think it comes from a Japanese aviation amgazine and is more a fan art than a real design since the same mag also proposes a carrier capable version from an ac larger than the latest US CVNs.