Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
That doesn't explain why the text says "first flight on 2021" when it wouldn't be the first flight of 2021. There's probably something more than meets the eye.

Ähhm ... he explained already: "Chinese netizens always refer to maiden flight as 首飞, and first flight as 第一飞。"

So it is the 31003's "first flight on 2021" and NOT a ""first maiden flight on 2021"!
 

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Ähhm ... he explained already: "Chinese netizens always refer to maiden flight as 首飞, and first flight as 第一飞。"

So it is the 31003's "first flight on 2021" and NOT a ""first maiden flight on 2021"!

But this wouldn't be the first flight of 2021, check the post preceding yours.
 

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
But this wouldn't be the first flight of 2021, check the post preceding yours.

Exactly as @KampfAlwin explained, it is nothing more but that individual demonstrator's first flight in 2021.

One can surely discuss now why stirring up hopes and expectations - especially for foreigners like me, who do not notice such a subtle difference in the original meaning - when the event itself is barely worth a note, but maybe this was exactly the reason, to keep up the tense. ;)
 

boytoy

New Member
Registered Member
I posted this under the PLAF future composition thread that was mostly talking about WS19 and 15 engines. and didn't get many responses. Here is probably more appropriate.

Any idea why the fc-31 doesn't use fully rotatable vertical stabilizers like on the J20 and Su57? My impression is that fully rotatable design is more advanced because you don't need to make them as big. Since vertical stabilizers are one of the biggest contributors to RCS, smaller is better.

Thoughts?

Also is there a technical name for the fully rotatable design?
 

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
I posted this under the PLAF future composition thread that was mostly talking about WS19 and 15 engines. and didn't get many responses. Here is probably more appropriate.

Any idea why the fc-31 doesn't use fully rotatable vertical stabilizers like on the J20 and Su57? My impression is that fully rotatable design is more advanced because you don't need to make them as big. Since vertical stabilizers are one of the biggest contributors to RCS, smaller is better.

Thoughts?

Also is there a technical name for the fully rotatable design?

I think you are referring to all moving tails.
 

boytoy

New Member
Registered Member
I think you are referring to all moving tails.

Yes that's the name. Thanks.

Some one from the other thread thought I was talking about canards. I'm talking about the vertical stabilizers.
2880px-Tail_of_a_conventional_aircraft.svg.png


Fully rotatable designs instead of rudders are better for stealth. Correct me if I'm wrong but all moving tails (like on the J20 and su57) provides greater control surface, so you don't need to make them as big (such as on the F22 and F35). And I see no evidence that full moving tails are significantly more expensive than rudder design.

It's better to have all moving vertical stabilizers. Thoughts?
 
Top