DS exercises?
China Flanker Thread II
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DS exercises?
thunderchief
Senior Member
Nothing unusual . China already has a problem because it needs to qualify both pilots and planes for naval service in the same time . Other countries (namely USA
) would train their pilots on proven platform , and leave testing of new planes to experienced naval aviators . China doesn't have that luxury , but at least it could avoid testing WS10 in sea conditions for a time being .
kwaigonegin
Colonel
Nothing unusual . China already has a problem because it needs to qualify both pilots and planes for naval service in the same time . Other countries (namely USA
That is 100% correct. Training pilots and testing and pre-qualifying a brand new navalized aircraft is hard enough on their own but to do BOTH at the same time is extremely difficult and taxing. It's amazing what PLAN has achieved with both the Liaoning AND J-15 at the same time not to mention the pilot training, infrastructure, ships crew, deck hands, system integration, carrier operations and 10000 other things.
To the casual observer including us who are sorta in the know, things appear relatively simple BUT the truth is what they accomplish is borderline incredible. The impatience amongst us (myself included) are always eager to hear the latest developments and see new pictures and at times even frustrated at the 'slow progress' etc but if you look back at the progress made in the last year holistically in regards to the carrier and the J-15 finally flying off and landing on her, it is an achievement rarely accomplish by many.
This facility is a testament to their achievements and commitment in regards to naval aviation and its future in the PRC:
No signal of catapult facility in this picture.
To my knowledge, there isn't one there. And, since it is an actual training facility, I do not expect there to be one until they have perfected cats and are close to being ready to go operational, at which time they would need to start training their pilots for it. Then you may see one there at that Naval Aviation Training facility.
Now, I bet the PLA/PRC has research facilities somewhere where they are testing cats. That would be a different facility.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
Yup. PLAN is modeling much of their blueprints after USN (very smart thing to do).... just like in the US a lot of catapult training, testing etc is conducted at NAS Lakehurst now known as Joint base McGuire-Lakehurst.
I am 100% sure PLAN or even the Chinese military as a whole will have their version of a similar base in the future if not done so already.
Incidently at Lakehurst they are busy testing and certifying the EMALS for coming CVNs.
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