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SAC FC-31 Stealth Fighter: News & Discussions

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How many V2 prototype as we have now?

IMO besides any potential static airframes only two flying birds: FC-31V1 = no. 31001' & FC-31V2.

I have been wondering about this as well, since the one we saw near the end of last year appeared to be grey in terms of paint colour rather than yellow.

No, the images was so much blurred when it came out first but if You look closely it is clearly yellow. By the way, all images of V2 we've seen since then were also in the yellow primer.

FC-31V2 maiden flight preparation - 18.12.16 comparison.jpg
 
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I don't know if the so-called WS-13E is a copy of the RD-33 or a completely different design. But I'm guessing they are similar. I also know that the RD-33 features a modular design.

The Klimov website confirms this.

http://www.klimov.ru/en/production/aircraft/RD-33-family/
JN58oVV.jpg


And if the modular design is anything like the Pratt & Whitney F100, the augmentor/nozzle module should be fully removable and interchangeable with other modules.

OpZybeM.jpg


If my theory is correct, that means the RD-33/93 lookalike nozzle you see now is nothing more than a module used to expedite testing of the early pre-production aircraft. China can easily snap-on/snap-off the RD-33/93 nozzle module and insert the stealth nozzle module at any time. We've already seen the stealth nozzle in models. It is not false advertisement.

V9vSgG4.jpg


Furthermore, the fact that the engine has gone from smoky to smokeless tells me that the engine core is now different from the original 31001 prototype. Black smoke comes from the combustion chamber inside the engine core. The combustion chambers (for whatever reason) aren’t able to burn off all of the fuel efficiently, so some particles of the fuel are vented out the engine, which materializes in the form of characteristic black smoke.

You can argue that the new RD-33MK is smokeless. That's true. But I can argue that you have no evidence Russia has sold the RD-33MK to China.

8hDUh50.jpg


The B-52 is notorious for black smoke. My point is that the black smoke is coming from the engine core.

YcWQfSO.jpg


Lastly, it would make no sense for SAC to make such drastic changes to the aircraft if there were no customer for the FC-31. The FC-31 has made the same jump the J-20 did when it went from the 200X prototypes to the 201X pre-production aircraft. SAC spent a lot of money to do this, and the design is now finalized.

niLplPY.jpg

rSRKyWe.jpg


Also that "decreased space between engines" could mean the engine bays have changed.
 
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I don't know if the so-called WS-13E is a copy of the RD-33 or a completely different design. But I'm guessing they are similar. I also know that the RD-33 features a modular design.

The Klimov website confirms this.

http://www.klimov.ru/en/production/aircraft/RD-33-family/
JN58oVV.jpg


And if the modular design is anything like the Pratt & Whitney F100, the augmentor/nozzle module should be fully removable and interchangeable with other modules.

OpZybeM.jpg


If my theory is correct, that means the RD-33/93 lookalike nozzle you see now is nothing more than a module used to expedite testing of the early pre-production aircraft. China can easily snap-on/snap-off the RD-33/93 nozzle module and insert the stealth nozzle module at any time. We've already seen the stealth nozzle in models. It is not false advertisement.

V9vSgG4.jpg


Furthermore, the fact that the engine has gone from smoky to smokeless tells me that the engine core is now different from the original 31001 prototype. Black smoke comes from the combustion chamber inside the engine core. The combustion chambers (for whatever reason) aren’t able to burn off all of the fuel efficiently, so some particles of the fuel are vented out the engine, which materializes in the form of characteristic black smoke.

You can argue that the new RD-33MK is smokeless. That's true. But I can argue that you have no evidence Russia has sold the RD-33MK to China.

8hDUh50.jpg


The B-52 is notorious for black smoke. My point is that the black smoke is coming from the engine core.

YcWQfSO.jpg


Lastly, it would make no sense for SAC to make such drastic changes to the aircraft if there were no customer for the FC-31. The FC-31 has made the same jump the J-20 did when it went from the 200X prototypes to the 201X pre-production aircraft. SAC spent a lot of money to do this, and the design is now finalized.

niLplPY.jpg

rSRKyWe.jpg


Also that "decreased space between engines" could mean the engine bays have changed.

The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.
 
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The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.
The body is lenghtier as well as the fuselage is a bit wider
 
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The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.

Impossible to be using either AL-31 or WS-10A
as the J-31 cannot fit two of these engines side by side in it's body.
Maybe WS-13X has been installed.
 
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The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.

Never ever ... just look at the nozzles, they are clearly RD-33/-93 or WS-13. The WS-10 or AL-31F are massively larger.

No way the FC-31 will use such a high-thrust engine.

AL-31F + RD-33.jpg
 
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Never ever ... just look at the nozzles, they are clearly RD-33/-93 or WS-13. The WS-10 or AL-31F are massively larger.

No way the FC-31 will use such a high-thrust engine.

View attachment 396796

But Deino, if FC-31 will be developed into Fighter for Aircraft Carrier, won't it need bigger thrust to get out from Liaoning of Shandong? Plus it's bigger than the previous prototype.
 
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Which is bigger, Mig-29K or the newest FC-31 prototype?

Both are roughly the same weight cat, while the J31 will eventually have a higher thrust engines (and reduced weight due to composite materials). The size of the wings may need to be increased to allow better carrier ops.
 
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