J-20... The New Generation Fighter

Originally Posted by SteelBird

Judging from the photos, there are one plane with black nozzle and the other with white nozzle. Wiki also suggests that there are two prototypes; numbered 2001 and 2002. My question is what's the difference between that two engines? Anyone familiar with engines can tell us?

not only one black and one white, the white one is shorter,why? we don't know, so every body just discuss,Deniel is the one, he also found out of that, but no one can tell you, you can have your own opinion.

Could the white nozzles be photoshopped?

Originally Posted by Skywatcher

Could the white nozzles be photoshopped?

I don't think so, every body discussed about this in chinese forum before we see the photos, many people are witnesses.
also, I just read the fy and cjdby forum, the maiden flight is not today, every body are leaving there now.

Im so excited to see the bird fly!!!

Isn't it the norm there'll be a ceremony with tents, stage and banners etc anytime there's a first flight of a new prototype. Until there's any sign of setting up of tents and tables and benches, I swear I'll not be sucked in by any of these first flight rumours, supposedly with invited press, again !

There are some photos with definitively show that 2001 has the AL-31.

Then there are photos like this...


I honestly have no clue what that engine is. The "ring" near the end of the nozzle is too thick to be the AL-31's or the WS-10's or the 117S's or the 117's or the D30's. I have to say, I'm pretty dumbfounded right now. Also, it has to be on a different prototype, it's impossible for them to just swap engines like that.

the bird

When Frogs could fly

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bd popeye super moderator

... here are more videos...

Frontal view of the aircraft.
YouTube - Frontal view of J-20

Actuation of the canards.
YouTube - J-20 canards actuation

J-20 Taxiing.
YouTube - J-20 taxi

Cheers, Deino

The UK Telegraph had a bit of a write up about this aircraft that seems to put things in a different perspective.

Douglas Barrie, an aerospace expert at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, noted that the J20's airframe resembled that of an abandoned Russian prototype, the MiG 1.42.

"I'm not sure that its even much of an impressive airframe," said Richard Aboulafia, another analyst. "It looks like something that might have been designed in 1985."

For the most part, China's combat aircraft programme has lagged behind its competitors in the west and Russia.

China's fourth-generation combat jet, the J-10, appeared in 2006 – but experts say it compares with western aircraft that went into production two decades ago. Beijing has also struggled to develop the Shenyang J-15 carrier-borne jet, reverse-engineered from the Russian-made Sukhoi 33.

China's fifth-generation fighter programme, experts say, faces several critical challenges as it moves forward from prototype stage to actual production.

For example, Chinese avionics – the software-controlled electronic systems which gave modern combat jets their cutting-edge mission capabilities – are believed to be a generation behind their US, European, Israeli and Russian counterparts.

It is also unclear what kind of engine the new Chinese jet will use. Some commentators have suggested that a new prototype engine, the WS 15, will power the J20. The engine, however, is some years away from going into production – and potential foreign suppliers will be cautious about supplying equipment, because of fears over cloning.

Last summer, Russia threatened to cut off supplies of jet engines for China's JF-17, saying it had been cloned from its Sukhoi 27/30 and MiG 29 aircraft – and was being sold for $10 million less than the original.

Illya Kramnik, a Russian expert, said that "despite the strides made by China's aircraft designers in the last 20 years, China has only slightly narrowed the technological gap dividing it from the global leaders."

source: China's J-20 stealth fighter: 'design is 25 years old' - Telegraph

Originally Posted by jantxv

The UK Telegraph had a bit of a write up about this aircraft that seems to put things in a different perspective.



source: China's J-20 stealth fighter: 'design is 25 years old' - Telegraph

JF-17 cloned from MIG-29 lol.

The so called experts don't know what they are talking about, since the design for the F-22 is also about 25 years old.

Wait a min guys, there are a ton of photos showing the silvery/white engines of the WS10 on the 2001 prototype. I am dumbfounded...there is no way that they switched the engines out that fast....or can they?

There are clearly two different types of engines being used in the same prototype. Without a doubt.

Originally Posted by Sczepan

the bird

thnx

Originally Posted by Centrist

Wait a min guys, there are a ton of photos showing the silvery/white engines of the WS10 on the 2001 prototype. I am dumbfounded...there is no way that they switched the engines out that fast....or can they?

There are clearly two different types of engines being used in the same prototype. Without a doubt.

Yes, there have to be two prototypes, maybe two testbeds for two different engines?

Originally Posted by jantxv

The UK Telegraph had a bit of a write up about this aircraft that seems to put things in a different perspective.



source: China's J-20 stealth fighter: 'design is 25 years old' - Telegraph

LOL so called experts,

even if the j-20 is a mig 1.44 rip-off, they cant say its bad, because mig 1.44 is in the same leage as eurocanards and rafale and even has superior manoeuvrebility than the f-22.