L-15 Trainer, China

[EagleEyes]

 

[Neo]

Imho it has many features from FC-1/JF-17. Take a good look on the last picture, the nose, wing, intakes, tail all look like the Thunder.

Is it feasible to have a twin engin trainer? What are the advantages of having two engines?

 

[overseer]

L-15 looks to me like a mini-F-18

 

[EagleEyes]

The L-15 Falcon prototype landing after its maiden flight.The L-15 Falcon (猎&#40560 is a supersonic training aircraft and light attack aircraft being developed by AVIC II, China.

Contents [hide]
1 Description
2 Specifications
3 External links
4 Related content



[edit] Description
The L-15 Falcon is an advanced trainer aircraft currently under development by Nanchang-based Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIG). The aircraft made its maiden flight on 13 March 2006. The aircraft's development was reportedly assisted by Yakovlev OKB of Russia. The L-15 is a direct rival to the Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation (GAIC) JL-9/FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle in competition for the People's Liberation Army Air Force's (PLAAF) next-generation advanced trainer aircraft program.

HAIG unveiled a full-scale mock-up of its L-15 advanced lead-in trainer (LIFT) in the 2004 Zhuhai Airshow. The two-engine, two-seat L-15 reportedly features the latest advanced technologies such as digital quadruple fly-by-wire (FBW), glass cockpit, and hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) flight control. The aerodynamic performance of the aircraft is enhanced by its large leading edge extensions (LEX) design, which gives a maximum angle of attack of 30°. This is very useful when trying to simulate the maneuvers of advanced fourth-generation fighters such as J-10 and J-11.


The pilots of the L-15 prototype being interviewed after the flight.With the L-15, student pilots will be able to complete mission flight training and advanced combat training for fourth-generation fighters such as J-10 and J-11, as well as complete all basic jet flight training courses. The aircraft also has six (four under-wing and two wingtip) pylons to carry various air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. If necessary, it can serve in the lightweight attack role with minor modifications.

The first L-15 prototype rolled out in September 2005 and made its maiden flight on 13 March 2006. Currently Hongdu is actively marketing the aircraft to both domestic and international markets. In April 2006, it was reported that the PLAAF placed orders for 4 L-15 trainers, and small batch production will start in 2007. [1]


[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

3-view of the L-15.Crew: 2 (1 student pilot and 1 instructor/official pilot (trainer), or 1 official pilot and 1 weapons systems officer (attack))
Weights: Normal take-off 6,500 kg; max take-off 9,500 kg
Max speed: Mach 1.4
Range: Combat radius over 550 km
Service ceiling: 16,000 m
Max climb rate: 150 m/s
g-Limits: +8.0/-3.0 g


The aircraft is said to be powered by two DV-2F or AI-222K-25F turbofan engines with afterburner.

 

[Bull]

Wow things are happening thick and fast in china

 

[Neo]

Its a beauty, I'd love to see it fly in PAF colors.

 

[Interceptor]

The L-15 has a sleek design but I think the PAF would have trouble getting it, as there is the engine issue again, the engine I read is forign as I understand it is Russian.

Ivchenko (Klimov) AI-222-25
Považské Strojárne Letecké DV-2F

http://www.jet-engine.net/miltfspec.html

 

[EagleEyes]

PAF for now is quite happy with K-8, but perhaps requirements will increase as the new planes are added especially J-10.

 

[kvLin]

Is it feasible to have a twin engin trainer? What are the advantages of having two engines?

the pics doesn't appear to me.
I've read an interview of the test pilot in China, in which he says pilot training doesn't require 1:1 on the engine setting. twin engine means higher security in common views, yet taking consideraton of PLAN's aspiration of aircraft carriers, twin engine means shorter takeoff distance.

Chinese people often talk about possible carrier plane: Su-30, improved J-9, and L-15.

 

[echo 1]

This aircraft would make a perfect light fighter bomber for the PAF don't you guys think.

 

[Keysersoze]

Well the Chinese haven't decided which of the two trainers they will go for. So this plane may not yet see production.

 

[saracen]

Well the Chinese haven't decided which of the two trainers they will go for. So this plane may not yet see production.

Some Chinese posters are claiming problems with its engines etc. and it might be scrapped.

 

[QADRI]

ooo man thats seems to be more fighter then trainer. only missiles and bombs are missing otherwise the whole craft is ready. good step by china.

 

[IceCold]

ooo man thats seems to be more fighter then trainer. only missiles and bombs are missing otherwise the whole craft is ready. good step by china.

Well Qadri these planes indeed can carry weapons, if you look at the K-8, it is also capable of carrying weapons, not air to air since its a subsonic aircraft but bombs and does have a limited capability of making bombing run missions. The planes are actually very close to a real jet fighter because the purpose is to replicate to the pilot how an actual fighter jet works. And that was the very reason pakistan was also looking for new trainer jets and also ordered more K-8s because the current training jets in PAF inventory were inadequate for the training of the pilots for the new jets such as the F-16s, JF-17 and J-10s.

 

[fatman17]

the chinese r trying to replace the russian engine with a czech engine similar to the L-159.