KJ-600 carrierborne AEWC thread

[Deino]

Apart from the possibility of being an old image, it is also possible it is a recent image, but of one of the earlier prototypes which would still be expected to be doing flight testing and would be expected to retain its pitot tube as well.


Overall the key point imo is that it's not surprising at all. In fact as a picture, there actually isn't much that is interesting or worth registering at all.

Hmm? In fact I see it a bit differently! To spot still now a pitot on an aircraft that „should“ be quite close to the end of the flight test phase (or at leats no longer in the early phase) I think it is indeed surprising.

Otherwise I agree, nether the image not the pitot reveals anything interesting.

 

[Blitzo]

Hmm? In fact I see it a bit differently! To spot still now a pitot on an aircraft that „should“ be quite close to the end of the flight test phase (or at leats no longer in the early phase) I think it is indeed surprising.

Otherwise I agree, nether the image not the pitot reveals anything interesting.

Earlier KJ-600 prototypes are the ones that would have been built as having pitot tubes -- they are likely to be still doing general flight testing duties even at this stage of development.
IMO it is quite expected that they would retain their pitot tubes.