Chinese carrier seen with J-15 Flanker copy onboard(photos on source page)

[Screambowl]

Chinese carrier seen with J-15 Flanker copy onboard - The DEW Line



The version of the J-15 spotted on the former Varyag is significantly different than the original Su-33 or even previous versions of the J-15 that have been photographed. The cockpit canopy is shortened/cut-off, and--at least to me--the forward fuselage and radome looks shorter and fatter.

Why the Chinese would alter the design in such a manner is anyone's guess--it's not like they're going to tell us. But it's standard practice to build flight sciences aircraft to evaluate flying characteristics and separate jets to test the avionics. We do it; the Russians do it; and the Chinese mostly likely do so also. It might be a new radar in there. But designs also evolve as flight testing progresses and problems are found...

The original Sukhoi T-10, which was the prototype for the Su-27, changed considerably after problems were discovered in test. There were also revisions to the Boeing (McDonnell Douglas at the time) F-15A Eagle--the developmental aircraft lacked the notched stabilator and raked wingtips of the production aircraft. More recently, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor had all sorts of developmental problems which had to be corrected... The same process is happening today with the F-35--which has also had all manner of discoveries in flight testing. No doubt, there will be many more discoveries before it finishes its flight and operational testing. Bottom line, problems are found and an engineering fix is designed and implemented.

But, for the J-15, it is also possible that this could just be some sort of deck handling mockup which the PLAN is using to gain experience. The reason I say that is because the nose landing-gear door appears to be missing. If I were to place a bet, it would be on a mockup.

 

[Roybot]

Looks like a mock up.

 

[SEAL]

 

[SQ8]

Looks like a mock up.

All chinese cockpits seem to imply that the "bubble" or all round view canopy has yet to come to china.
Although the jet looks very real.. either that or they built a complete working "deck model" to test procedures on the ship.

 

[no_name]

That jet is a mock up.

 

[S10]

They need to test out plane arrangements with a mock up before sending the real ones in.

 

[lcloo]

They need to test out plane arrangements with a mock up before sending the real ones in.

Yes, and also they need to train deck crew on handling aircraft using the model, task like towing, parking, elevator handliing, fueling, chain fasterning, hangar storage, weapon loading etc. These may seen to be simple, but any mistake on an aircraft carrier can be fatal, thus actual aircraft will be landed only after deck crews are well trained.