Latest PLAN Aircraft Carrier Info & Photos

Originally Posted by tphuang

new pictures of Varyag are coming out now, although I wish they are better shots, at least the pictures are not fuzzy.

Cant see the thumbnails attached. Can you repost as embedded files?

Originally Posted by Norfolk

I have to admit, Varyag is looking good. The Chinese did a very nice job in rehabilitating the hull, it would appear.

I wonder what the object is that appears on the flight deck at the stern: is it some sort of ventilation system for the workers working below deck, say, repairing and installing the ship's propulsion plant? Something else?

Oh, I see, it's alongside the ship on the pier. Sorry about that, my mistake.

Still, I wonder when Varyag will have its propulsion system ready and its rudder fitted. If she's supposed to be ready by the end of next year, there's still a lot of fitting out to do.

I still really like this photo, taken from May or June:



She's looking really fit topside and exteriror (outside of the Island not having any final coats of paint).

Great pic Jeff, just a pity they hadn't marked out the landing area as that would have given the game away!

If this report about Varyag starting sea trails at the end of this year is correct, then roughly when will they need to have finished all the work, i.e. island painted and radars etc installed?

Originally Posted by Neutral Zone

Great pic Jeff, just a pity they hadn't marked out the landing area as that would have given the game away!

If this report about Varyag starting sea trails at the end of this year is correct, then roughly when will they need to have finished all the work, i.e. island painted and radars etc installed?

If those pics in that thumbnail are recent well boys the ships not going anywhere soon without some sort of radar or sensors...I'd like to see a pic less than a month old of the flight deck and island..

The previously posted thumbnails expanded

It's not unusual for a carrier to start her sea trials without any flight deck markings, even though this is annoying for the rest of us! The first series of trials will be to test the ships as a ship, ie propulsion and handling. Flying trials will be well down the schedule, and I expect the PLAN will hold off on painting the deck for as long as possible just to keep everyone guessing. I hate being teased...

Originally Posted by Obi Wan Russell

It's not unusual for a carrier to start her sea trials without any flight deck markings, even though this is annoying for the rest of us! The first series of trials will be to test the ships as a ship, ie propulsion and handling. Flying trials will be well down the schedule, and I expect the PLAN will hold off on painting the deck for as long as possible just to keep everyone guessing. I hate being teased...

True...I know at the minimum US CVN emerge from the shipyard with at leat the "Helo spots" marked...I remember on CVA-67 leaving the shipyad after a short re-fit with no air wing and only two helos. What did we do at sea? Put the ship through some rigerous engineering drills..such as full speed runs. Reversing the screws at full speed. High speed turns. Testing the water washdown system. Testing all alarms and most every system on the ship..etc..etc..etc...

Originally Posted by bd popeye

True...I know at the minimum US CVN emerge from the shipyard with at leat the "Helo spots" marked...I remember on CVA-67 leaving the shipyad after a short re-fit with no air wing and only two helos. What did we do at sea? Put the ship through some rigerous engineering drills..such as full speed runs. Reversing the screws at full speed. High speed turns. Testing the water washdown system. Testing all alarms and most every system on the ship..etc..etc..etc...

Maybe the Chinese can get away with their first sea trials by describing the Varyag as a floating, sailing casino complete with a flight deck for VIP helicopters to land on...

hey guys i have a few pictures that may or may not be new to you guys. Some are quite obviously older but might be worth a look for comparisons sake.....

Can't seem to be able to attach them....

Originally Posted by keysersoze

Can't seem to be able to attach them....

Don't worry, we're patient, and we'll be happy to see them when you've got them.

The more I get to see of the Varyag, with her refurbishment coming along as nicely as it is, the more I find myself afflicted by "Shiny Kit Syndrome". The Varyag is really a beautiful ship, and I can't wait to see what she looks like when she's completed.

That said, Varyag will have to start fitting out pretty soon, and although it would make sense if that, as it would also seem likely, she be fitted out at Dalian, I wonder though if she may be moved somewhere else instead sometime over the next few months. This might deprive us of fresh photos for a while.

Second try.....The problem is, to get into a small enough size, a lot of the resolution is lost.

Yes, comparing recent photos of Varyag to old ones really does underline what a good job the Chinese have done (especially when you compare the old photos of Varyag to that beautiful shot of the flight deck that Jeff has).

It'll be very interesting to see what the new carriers China is supposed to build in the near future will look like. If they will be anything like how Varyag seems to be turning out, they will be most impressive-looking ships. The kind that get peoples' (and governments') attention when they make "friendly" calls in foreign ports. Impressive instruments of diplomacy in the making.

Originally Posted by Norfolk

Don't worry, we're patient, and we'll be happy to see them when you've got them.

The more I get to see of the Varyag, with her refurbishment coming along as nicely as it is, the more I find myself afflicted by "Shiny Kit Syndrome". The Varyag is really a beautiful ship, and I can't wait to see what she looks like when she's completed.

That said, Varyag will have to start fitting out pretty soon, and although it would make sense if that, as it would also seem likely, she be fitted out at Dalian, I wonder though if she may be moved somewhere else instead sometime over the next few months. This might deprive us of fresh photos for a while.

China's achievement is all the more impressive when you consider the ongoing fiasco over Gorshkov, at least that had been a completed and operational warship whereas Varyag had been a hulk lying in a shipyard for several years.

I think you could be right that Varyag may be moved again before it's completed. It's possible that once Dalian finishes the structural work and the installation of the machinery, she could be towed to a more secure PLAN base so that the final fitting out can happen.

Originally Posted by keysersoze

hey guys i have a few pictures that may or may not be new to you guys. Some are quite obviously older but might be worth a look for comparisons sake.....

well, thx 4 the pic - its an very old one (2002 to May 2005), showing the Varjag at her first mooring berth in Dalian - see also
http://www.varyagworld.com/gallery.php

I think we more ar interestet to see the newest developement