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First Flight for China’s Second Stealth Fighter

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE » NOVEMBER 2, 2012

by  CHRIS POCOCK

The Chinese J-31 stealth fighter on its first flight on October 31. (Photo: Chinese Internet)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 2, 2012, 10:45 AM

China’s new stealth fighter has made its first flight. The J-31 was airborne for 10 minutes from Shenyang, accompanied by two J-11 (Su-27) chaseplanes.

As has become normal practice in the unveiling of new aircraft designs in China, the event was made public via unofficial websites, and re-broadcast by official media, but without the benefit of any government statement.

According to a calculation that was broadcast by CCTV, the twin-engine J-31 has a wingspan of 10 meters (33 feet), a fuselage length of 16-17 meters (52-55 feet) and a wing area of 40 sq meters (130 sq feet). This is similar to the F-35, and smaller than theJ-20, China’s other fifth-generation combat aircraft.

The aircraft does not carry Chinese Air Force insignia, but instead has a Sea Eagle badge on the tail and fuselage. This, together with the double-wheel nose landing gear, has led Chinese commentators to speculate that the J-31 is intended to fly from China’s new aircraft carrier. However, no tail hook was visible in the images of the first flight that appeared on Chinese websites.