CV-17 Shandong (002 carrier) Thread I ...News, Views and operations

Totoro said:

what do you think of the theory that it might be due to limited number of pilots, which I wrote about a week or two ago in j15 thread?

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China has lots of pilots with the potential to be carrier qualified, granted at present there is a limited number of carrier qual'ed pilots, but that is more a function of carrier and aircraft availability....

The shortage of aircraft and the lack of carrier availability is the "hang up", it could well be that that China sees that carrier availability will be an issue for some time? so why build a bunch of aircraft and qual a bunch of pilots who will only operate off land? or maybe they see the operational limitations imposed by operating those J-15's off the ramp? and rather than build a bunch of J-15's they have decided that 24 will be sufficient for their immediate needs and when the time comes will build new J-15's as CATOBAR birds??

So we all recognize that there are a limited number of carrier qualified pilots, but that is more a factor only having two carriers with ramps, and the inevitable gap in bringing up CATOBAR boat, and the boats that will follow on?? So there is really no need at present?

Zooming in a bit. They appear to be painting the pennant number on the flight deck. Commissioning ceremony will likely happen soon.

by78 said:

Zooming in a bit. They appear to be painting the pennant number on the flight deck. Commissioning ceremony will likely happen soon.

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At twitter there are also already some posts, which suggest it has been numbered already and handover either will occur soon or was already done.

About the J-15 serial number change: what made you think that's just serial number change rather than a new batch?

What's the next carrier based fighter jet, plus H-20, that's the biggest mysteries of PLA weapon program to me.

PLA's traditional doctrine is to let "people waiting for equipment", not ”equipment waiting for people". Now we see ships moving fast, but no news about the airplane. This indicates some kind of trouble to me. I think they are stuck on whether continue with J-15, or fully invest in the next gen; and for next gen, is it going to be based on J-20 or J-31.

longmarch said:

About the J-15 serial number change: what made you think that's just serial number change rather than a new batch?

....

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It is ... and that is already confirmed.

Er... that piece of canvas at the bow!!! Need to wait for big day.....

lcloo said:

Er... that piece of canvas at the bow!!! Need to wait for big day.....

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But I see no cover on the island!?

May be they will paint on it later?

Extremely grainy update.

Sailors lining up on flight deck.


Can't make out the characters. Not sure if they are relevant.

by78 said:

Sailors lining up on flight deck.

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Ahem ..no matter what navy it is lining up along the deck edge is called "manning the rails".