I’ll believe it when I see it from SAC.
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
- Start date
I would take exception to the insinuation that blue checkmark twitter accounts somehow have more credibility on matters even within their own purview..
Sounds like someone has been burned before.
@Bltizo Sir a devil's advocate with news about WS15 equipping both Medium and Heavy fighters, maybe PLAAF is interested in CAC 5th Gen single engine proposal (IF there is one) while PLAN is set with J35 therefore FC31 are really meant for export?
That does not have anything to do with what I wrote?
And no, the "news" about WS-15 "equipping both medium and heavy weight fighters" is not news.
As I wrote in the engine thread:
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Well, you know as well as I do that blue check marks are no indicator of quality or competence.
The exact reason why certain people get blue check marks is perhaps a discussion for a different time...
We should petition twitter to get you and Deino the blue check mark =)
entire production line could mean any number of things. It seems to me SAC is trying hard to sell FC-31 to foreign countries. It really serves China politically to be able to export a competitive 5th generation aircraft to countries not aligned with NATO.
I do think there is a chance if they amass good number of export contracts for land version of FC-31, they might not procure it in PLAAF.
Also, I don't think there is any evidence of a single engined 5th generation project from CAC. Nor do I see any reason for them to develop such an aircraft.
The best way to do that would be to get the plane in PLAN and PLAAF service asap. Gimmicks like setting up production elsewhere do nothing to inspire confidence, instead they reek of desperation. Given the technologies going into this plane, it'll likely also be illegal to do ToT.
Once again, dont comment on things you dont know. I assure you there is just about zero way one can get eyes on the SAC airstrip or the factory from outside its walls, which is NOT the case with CAC.
... which will make it just that tiny bit harder for non-affiliated personnel to know when which aircraft are going on the runway preparing to takeoff, and subsequently harder to get sightings, especially if SAC actually WANTS to keep a secret with test flights, wouldn't you agree?
p.s. ahh now that I had caught up on the more recent posts, allow me to apologize for beating the dead horse
Aren’t we counting the chickens before they hatched here? Until PLANAF has operated J-35 for a while with domestic engines it wont be smooth sailings for FC-31 exports.