Chengdu next gen combat aircraft (?J-36) thread

mond

New Member
Registered Member
Can you use a red arrow to indicate what you're referring to?
I legitimately am unable to discern what discontinuity you're talking about. It just looks like the dorsal intake to me, with its side/dorsal aspects having multiple tones of camouflage overlapping.
Sorry for the late reply, but this is the discontinuity that I was getting at.
hatch.jpg
If you look at the bigger picture, it would look something like this -- I've tried to illustrate the S-duct and where the engine nozzles ends up. See also @WaterbDoge 's CG which gets at the same idea -- the taper of the dorsal intake should be quite steep at this angle, given that we are almost head-on and that the intake does not appear to widen significantly since it is constrained within the two side engine nacelles in previous side-on photos.
1000013213 2.jpg

Camouflage has a weird way of appearing from different angles (particularly as we don't actually see what the full right/dorsal fuselage white pattern is), I wouldn't put it past the pattern being the same but just looking different because this is the first time we are seeing it at this angle.
I'm not trying to rule out other explanations, to be clear. But given a combination of past photos of the left side, which have not had these white splotches curving in that way (see below), a liberal estimate that a mirrored image is relatively unlikely, and my understanding of aerodynamics and area ruling indicating to me that the inlet manifold will be more likely narrow rather than wide, this seems to me the most likely shape.

Image.jpg

Anyways, I'm happy for everyone to keep their own reservations and I'm sure we'll find out in due time (hopefully not too long).
 

mack8

Junior Member
A CG in similar angle (mirrored) from @能量机动工作室 on weibo, I think this can explain something on the top intake, the back of the top intake should be verry steep, dont think the white in photo is part of the aircraftView attachment 153751
Controversial take, and as much as i'd like this to be real (but also feel bad for the guy getting tea intoxicated by MSS), what you guys think of the possibility the photo is actually based on the CGI?! The angle similarity seems unnervingly, well... similar. Too much AI/PS stuff circulating nowadays.
 

mack8

Junior Member
I heard the guy who took the really good J-20 photos got 7-9 years, so probably something in that range for this guy too.
Well this is not a good picture, as it looks AI tampered with as well, so there are no potentially sensitive details seen (just a damn good looking angle). And as i and others mentioned before, there must a whole cohort of "tourists" enjoying the scenery that just happens to be passing around CAC or SAC (i'm sure MSS keeps a good eye but still).
 

Steven D

New Member
Registered Member
Controversial take, and as much as i'd like this to be real (but also feel bad for the guy getting tea intoxicated by MSS), what you guys think of the possibility the photo is actually based on the CGI?! The angle similarity seems unnervingly, well... similar. Too much AI/PS stuff circulating nowadays.
I don't think so, one of my personal take that this can't be CGI is based on my supersonic flow aerodynamic knowledge that : The top part of canopy is significantly flatter than all CGI models, and it makes aerodynamic sense.

Long story short, such geometric design may reduce the energy lost (total pressure lost) of free airflow before getting into the intake at transonic and supresonic conditions.

It could possibly also make the intake airflow more steady, with less side way speed vector and generally a flow field of less vorticity.

A full analysis needs some CFD and possibly a journal article but my gut tells me this is the case.
 
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talonn

Junior Member
Registered Member
Sorry for the late reply, but this is the discontinuity that I was getting at.
View attachment 153770
If you look at the bigger picture, it would look something like this -- I've tried to illustrate the S-duct and where the engine nozzles ends up. See also @WaterbDoge 's CG which gets at the same idea -- the taper of the dorsal intake should be quite steep at this angle, given that we are almost head-on and that the intake does not appear to widen significantly since it is constrained within the two side engine nacelles in previous side-on photos.
View attachment 153773


I'm not trying to rule out other explanations, to be clear. But given a combination of past photos of the left side, which have not had these white splotches curving in that way (see below), a liberal estimate that a mirrored image is relatively unlikely, and my understanding of aerodynamics and area ruling indicating to me that the inlet manifold will be more likely narrow rather than wide, this seems to me the most likely shape.

View attachment 153774

Anyways, I'm happy for everyone to keep their own reservations and I'm sure we'll find out in due time (hopefully not too long).
After looking at CGI as comparison (yeah I know), I now agree with this assessment. The mystery is now on the panel/hatch behind the top inlet
 
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