March 5, 201214 yr Very impressive looking aircraft.....interesting blend of US and Russian design. I wonder if the final version will implement thrust vectoring? When all the control surfaces were being tested on the ground, I was half expecting the thing to transform into a giant robot.
March 5, 201214 yr Author Apparently too heavy and lacking thrust, as the Tornado .... No doubt this bird is heavy, but I am not sure I would reach the same conclusion, at least not based on this single video. These are low altitude and apparently low speed maneuvers, which are probably not its forte in any event, and I think I caught a hint of an Immelmann at around the 4:00 minute mark ...
March 6, 201214 yr Apparently too heavy and lacking thrust, as the Tornado .... i would assume the final version would have enhanced engines to improve the thrust to weight. However depending on the assumed role of this plane the lower thrust may not be such an issue. i would think the probable role for this aircraft is a long range air defence fighter with dogfighting capability as low priority. the Tornado ADV low thrust would have been a disadvantage in a dogfight...but as a long range interceptor it was not a bad aircraft, and probably would have been successful against its primary opponents Soviet Longe Range Bombers and recce. Add the stealth factor and probable supercruise performance plus a wingplan that probably allows a large fuel tankage...this aircraft would be quite well suited denying airspace to various long range patrol/intelligence gathering assets. i would also imagine that this aircraft could also be developed into a long range strike / interdictor where thrust to weight again might not be such an issue. High speed stealthy hit and run.
March 13, 201214 yr Author Some still images probably taken from the above flight, here ... J-20 'Mighty Dragon'
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