Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

Finally a (sort of) clear photo of the rumored J-31 (prototype)?

Single wheel front landing gear, smaller wings, EODAS(?), so it's probably not the J-35 or one of the FC-31 prototypes. But to be absolutely sure we'll probably have to wait for a photo showing whether or not it has the hump behind the canopy.


Source:

A diagram of illustrated differences between this and the FC-31V2.


The most notable differences are:
- The front landing gear (single vs twin wheels)
- Front landing gear housing is also slightly shifted rearwards (same as the J-35)
- Presence of an EOTS/EODAS module
- Slightly elongated fuselage compared to the V2, marked by the gap between the tails and the wings (the J-35's fuselage also is slightly elongated for accommodating the larger wings. The length is retained here on the J-31 for production ease I suppose?)
- Slight intake angle tweaks
- Slight changes on wing trimmings

Comparison between J-31 and J-35(bottom)

Alfa_Particle said:

Finally a (sort of) clear photo of the rumored J-31 (prototype)?

Single wheel front landing gear, smaller wings, EODAS(?), so it's probably not the J-35 or one of the FC-31 prototypes. But to be absolutely sure we'll probably have to wait for a photo showing whether or not it has the hump behind the canopy.
View attachment 130085

Source:

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Since I‘m at the moment away from my PC … does anyone have a similar image of the FC-31(V2) and the J-35 at hand to compare especially if the wing geometry is different or the same?

KampfAlwin said:

Comparison between J-31 and J-35(bottom)
View attachment 130125

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The one on top is the same „new“ aircraft?

Deino said:

Since I‘m at the moment away from my PC … does anyone have a similar image of the FC-31(V2) and the J-35 at hand to compare especially if the wing geometry is different or the same?

Click to expand...

Here, I posted it right after.

Alfa_Particle said:

A diagram of illustrated differences between this and the FC-31V2.
View attachment 130118

The most notable differences are:
- The front landing gear (single vs twin wheels)
- Front landing gear housing is also slightly shifted rearwards (same as the J-35)
- Presence of an EOTS/EODAS module
- Slightly elongated fuselage compared to the V2, marked by the gap between the tails and the wings (the J-35's fuselage also is slightly elongated for accommodating the larger wings. The length is retained here on the J-31 for production ease I suppose?)
- Slight intake angle tweaks
- Slight changes on wing trimmings

Click to expand...

I've finally located the paper whose illustrations had been shared in this thread on a piece-meal basis over the years. The paper () is published by AVIC Shenyang and examines new concepts in structural design and fabrication. The paper gives no indication how mature these innovations are or whether they have been implemented.

Some interesting points are as follows:
1) Instead of the traditional method of attaching wings to fuselage using lugs and pins that requires the extensive use of high-strength titanium or steel, a single-piece aluminum fuselage frame with integrated wing beams is used, which eliminates stress concentrations inherent in the traditional method. The new method can achieve a weight reduction of 38%, an increase in wing fuel tank volume of 9%, and manufacturing efficiency increased of more than 1000%.



2) To combat crack propagation, the paper proposes using spars and beams made of laminated titanium alloy (four layers of bonded titanium sheets).


3) The paper also talks about gradient metal alloy fabrication using 3D printing, showing a gradient alloy wing spar:

Back from vacation means back at work!

So, any news I missed concerning the question of "J-31 or not?" since my return from France?

I found these three & added the J-35 on my own, even if indeed not the same angle like the other three, it looks indeed at least "different" to a J-35 and both FC-31 demonstrators!

Deino said:

Back from vacation means back at work!

So, any news I missed concerning the question of "J-31 or not?" since my return from France?

I found these three & added the J-35 on my own, even if indeed not the same angle like the other three, it looks indeed at least "different" to a J-35 and both FC-31 demonstrators!

View attachment 130246

Click to expand...

I have to say
This is really a challenge to human vision

CHNPHD said:

I have to say
This is really a challenge to human vision

Click to expand...

How so?