The Q-5, J-7, J-8 and older PLAAF aircraft
- Thread starter adeptitus
- Start date
Is it normal that they put a national flag on a fighter?
What for? The serial number and tail insignia are eye-catching enough already. Are they often tasked to face up to foreign aircrafts?
IIRC the nationality symbols were designed to be more easily read from various directions than the national flag and that was already found during WWI.
I understand that the national flag increases visibility of the airplane. It's just that modern military aircrafts usually want to reduce visibility. And Deino said having the flag on airplanes is unique to the 2nd Fighter Division. So I was asking if these airplanes being made more visible is because they often need to face up to foreign aircrafts. I have no idea where this 2nd Fighter Division stations its airplanes.
I think it is a tradition or historical issue, since these planes arte usually flown on parades to celebrate certain national events.
szbd
Junior Member
About 10 years ago, PLAAF aggressively wanted to be aggressive, as part of the culture building, they decided every division can have their own symbols on the planes. But you have to earn this right through performance. 1st and 2nd divisions are first to earn this right. But after some years due to unknown reason the symbol on the side of planes are canceled. The 2nd division had the national flag in 2009 parade, so they kept the flag as their symbol to by pass this order.