Some years from now, I will remember Oct 2016 to Now, was one of my intellectually most active and interesting period.
To solve the mystery of J-20's engine, I was intensely pulled into understand how Jet Engine and how aircraft fly.
Sometimes, I spend more than 10 hrs a day on it. I must have downloaded and read over 100 technical papers and articles, on these subjects. Not very amusing for my wife and daughter to see me, constantly, glued to the monitor, reading those papers.
Before, I didn't even know how a jet engine works, how the airplane controls works, not even know how the wings of generates lift, despite a life long interest in airplane. I was just looking at pretty aircraft pictures. I am ashamed to admit.
Thank you for being my worthy debate "opponent"!
It takes another stubborn person, to get the best and worst, out of another stubborn man.
I have insisted that there is a
War of Deception going on, being waged by the Chinese over J-20.
There is a chance, that the continuous public disclosures of J-20 is diversionary tactic, designed to divert attention, away from the even more secretive H-20, strategic stealth bomber project.
To admit being fooled is not easy. The Chinese have fooled the fanboys, the CIA and Pentagon,
big time, over the J-20 project.
They have fooled Mr. Robert Gates into cancel the formidable F-22, and put their money on the lesser F-35, thus forfeited their Air Superiority and air dominance, that the US has enjoyed since WWII.
I really doubted US would have cancelled F-22 at 187 units, if they knew, what they knew now.
Now, they can either reopen the F-22 production line, which takes 5 years even with no major upgrades, or bet their money on the sixth-generation fighter, which may take another 15 years, like F-22 and F-35.
There is no guaranteed, that China won't beat US and Russia to it, and produce a better sixth-generation, at an earlier date.
Either case, US have forfeited its Air Superiority over China. There will be no more
generation gap between US and China air forces.
Their air powers' quality and quantity will be at PARITY, in the near future.
If the US has kept their production goal of 800+ F-22, China will not have 800 J-20 for another 10-15 years, and US would still have their Air Superiority.
And since the F-22's production line is still open, if it weren't canceled, US could keep increase the production F-22, past 800 units, and keep making continuous upgrades, like the F-15 and F-16, at the expense of F-35, in order, to keep up with J-20's production.
There would be no danger of losing the Air Superiority to China.
Now, US faces the prospect of 184 F-22 against 500-1000 J-20, in the next 10-20 years.
And J-20 will keep improving, at a rapid rate, while F-22 will not.