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One day with a Captain of August 1st acrobatic team...


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New flight suit entered into service in PLAAF...


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China Needs Advanced Jet Trainers But L-15 Not Yet Confirmed



AIN Defense Perspective » April 19, 2013 by Chris Pocock



China displayed a prototype L-15 advanced jet trainer at the 2009 Dubai Air Show.

The fatal crash of an Su-27UBK fighter trainer of the China’s People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in late March has called attention to the lack of advanced jet trainers for pilots of China’s third-generation fighters, the Su-27, J-10 and J-11. But although the L-15 has been under development by Nanchang-based Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG), there is no confirmation from within China that the PLAAF has placed a substantial production order. AIN previously reported that 250 AI222-25F turbofans had been ordered from the Ukraine, to power the L-15.


Chinese media reported recently that the first batch of L-15s, 12 in all, is to be delivered by year-end. But it seems that most, if not all, of these aircraft will be exported. Although acknowledging the need for new advanced jet trainers, the PLAAF has apparently ordered only four L-15s to date. The PLAAF would likely need approximately 400 such aircraft to meet the growing demands of its new fighter fleet in the years to come.

The L-15 faces strong competition from an alternative advanced jet trainer developed by Guizhou Aircraft Industry (GAI), the L-9. This is an update of the JL-7 produced at Guizhou for many years and derived from the Soviet-era MiG-21U. The L-9 was previously known as the FTC-2000 Shanying (Mountain Eagle). Both HAIG and GAI are subsidiaries of state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic).

The training of a PLAAF pilot starts with the CJ-6 basic trainer and then progresses to the HAIG L-8 jet (more commonly known by its export designation of K-8) and the JL-7 for more demanding training. Those assigned to fly the Su-27/J-11 then move onto the small fleet of 40 Su-27UBKs, now down to 39. China now has more than 300 Su-27/J-11 third-generation fighters.

Avic is currently developing an engine named the Minshan for the L-15, but the initial production types of the L-15 are evidently powered by the Ukrainian AI222. The aircraft itself resembles Russia’s Yak-130 advanced jet trainer.

The first L-15 prototype made its maiden flight in 2006.





Tags: AircraftAviationHongdu Aviation Industry GroupSukhoi Su-27Jet trainerChina Aviation Industry Corporation IAviation Industry Corporation of ChinaHongdu L-15Guizhou JL-9
 
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Amateur video of the 2 test flights of Y-20, on April 20th and 21st...


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S-70C-2 Black Hawk

24 Sikorsky S-70C-2s equipped with a nose-mounted weather radar and upgraded engines (T700-GE-701A, 1,723shp) were bought in 1985 (S/N LH922xx, 942xx). Its cruise speed is 270km and range is 560km. The helicopter can be fitted with shoulder-mounted stub wings with pylons able to carry 4 external fuel tanks so that a longer range could be achieved but at the cost of increasing drag. Most Black Hawks are used for troop transportation and SAR in Tibet and in Xinjiang, due to their excellent performance at high altitude. As the result a least three were lost in the harsh environment. Some Black Hawks were equipped flare dispensers and 12.7mm machine guns when flying logistical missions along the Sino-Indian border. Due to the shortage of spare parts caused by the US embargo, many are thought to be grounded and their missions have been replaced by the newly imported Mi-17-V7/171Es. Recent images indicate some S-70C-2s have been upgraded with a Chinese IFF antenna on the nose as well as a pair of communication antennas on top of and beneath the boom. There were reports that China obtained the much needed spare parts from US for the purpose of "humanitarian missions" but this has not been confirmed. It now appears that Changhe is capable of overhauling the helicopter in addition to manufacturing most of the parts. Consequently it has been rumored that Changhe is trying to reverse-engineer the Black Hawk design as Z-20 (?).

- Last Updated 1/16/13
 
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Air Force Engineering University : Mission responsibility paved the way to the battlefield


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New real-time monitoring assessment system help the Air Force flight training


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