- Joined
- Sep 25, 2009
- Messages
- 1,624
- Likes
- 423
China has been building delta-wing jet fighters for 50 years.
J-7 (first flight 1966) delta wing design -->
J-8 (first flight 1969) enlarged delta wing design -->
J-9 (first flight 1975) tailless canard-delta wing design (project canceled in 1980 due to inability to mass produce WS-6 turbofan engine) -->
J-10 (first flight 1998) tailless canard-delta wing design -->
J-20 (first flight 2011) stealthy tailless canard-delta wing design -->
J-31 (first flight 2012) stealthy clipped-delta wing design
Fifty years ago, China started with its first delta-wing design. All subsequent aircraft have been an evolution of the basic delta-wing design by adding a canard and then making it stealthy. It is clear that all of the Chinese fighters (e.g. J-7, J-8, J-9, J-10, J-20, and J-31) belong to the same delta-wing family.
The J-31 is a modified design of China's basic delta-wing fighter. The J-31 uses a clipped-delta wing.
In conclusion, China has been building delta-wing designs and their offshoots for fifty years.
On the left is a Chinese J-7E with a unique double-delta wing design. On the right is the Chinese J-9 tailless canard-delta wing prototype.
J-7 (first flight 1966) delta wing design -->
J-8 (first flight 1969) enlarged delta wing design -->
J-9 (first flight 1975) tailless canard-delta wing design (project canceled in 1980 due to inability to mass produce WS-6 turbofan engine) -->
J-10 (first flight 1998) tailless canard-delta wing design -->
J-20 (first flight 2011) stealthy tailless canard-delta wing design -->
J-31 (first flight 2012) stealthy clipped-delta wing design
Fifty years ago, China started with its first delta-wing design. All subsequent aircraft have been an evolution of the basic delta-wing design by adding a canard and then making it stealthy. It is clear that all of the Chinese fighters (e.g. J-7, J-8, J-9, J-10, J-20, and J-31) belong to the same delta-wing family.
The J-31 is a modified design of China's basic delta-wing fighter. The J-31 uses a clipped-delta wing.
In conclusion, China has been building delta-wing designs and their offshoots for fifty years.
On the left is a Chinese J-7E with a unique double-delta wing design. On the right is the Chinese J-9 tailless canard-delta wing prototype.