SAC FC-31 Stealth Fighter: News & Discussions

[ChineseToTheBone]

How many V2 prototype as we have now?

I have been wondering about this as well, since the one we saw near the end of last year appeared to be grey in terms of paint colour rather than yellow.

 

[Deino]

How many V2 prototype as we have now?

IMO besides any potential static airframes only two flying birds: FC-31V1 = no. 31001' & FC-31V2.

I have been wondering about this as well, since the one we saw near the end of last year appeared to be grey in terms of paint colour rather than yellow.

No, the images was so much blurred when it came out first but if You look closely it is clearly yellow. By the way, all images of V2 we've seen since then were also in the yellow primer.

 

[monitor]

1. Small but finally two new clear images of the FC-31V2 ...
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
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3. dafeng cao Retweeted
   dafeng cao‏ @xinfengcao May 12
   
   
   
   Replying to @tomislav_mes
   A translated verison
   
   
   
   
   2 replies 10 retweets 16 likes
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

[j20blackdragon]

I don't know if the so-called WS-13E is a copy of the RD-33 or a completely different design. But I'm guessing they are similar. I also know that the RD-33 features a modular design.

The Klimov website confirms this.

http://www.klimov.ru/en/production/aircraft/RD-33-family/

And if the modular design is anything like the Pratt & Whitney F100, the augmentor/nozzle module should be fully removable and interchangeable with other modules.

If my theory is correct, that means the RD-33/93 lookalike nozzle you see now is nothing more than a module used to expedite testing of the early pre-production aircraft. China can easily snap-on/snap-off the RD-33/93 nozzle module and insert the stealth nozzle module at any time. We've already seen the stealth nozzle in models. It is not false advertisement.

Furthermore, the fact that the engine has gone from smoky to smokeless tells me that the engine core is now different from the original 31001 prototype. Black smoke comes from the combustion chamber inside the engine core. The combustion chambers (for whatever reason) aren’t able to burn off all of the fuel efficiently, so some particles of the fuel are vented out the engine, which materializes in the form of characteristic black smoke.

You can argue that the new RD-33MK is smokeless. That's true. But I can argue that you have no evidence Russia has sold the RD-33MK to China.

The B-52 is notorious for black smoke. My point is that the black smoke is coming from the engine core.

Lastly, it would make no sense for SAC to make such drastic changes to the aircraft if there were no customer for the FC-31. The FC-31 has made the same jump the J-20 did when it went from the 200X prototypes to the 201X pre-production aircraft. SAC spent a lot of money to do this, and the design is now finalized.

Also that "decreased space between engines" could mean the engine bays have changed.

 

[Brainsucker]

I don't know if the so-called WS-13E is a copy of the RD-33 or a completely different design. But I'm guessing they are similar. I also know that the RD-33 features a modular design.

The Klimov website confirms this.

http://www.klimov.ru/en/production/aircraft/RD-33-family/

And if the modular design is anything like the Pratt & Whitney F100, the augmentor/nozzle module should be fully removable and interchangeable with other modules.

If my theory is correct, that means the RD-33/93 lookalike nozzle you see now is nothing more than a module used to expedite testing of the early pre-production aircraft. China can easily snap-on/snap-off the RD-33/93 nozzle module and insert the stealth nozzle module at any time. We've already seen the stealth nozzle in models. It is not false advertisement.

Furthermore, the fact that the engine has gone from smoky to smokeless tells me that the engine core is now different from the original 31001 prototype. Black smoke comes from the combustion chamber inside the engine core. The combustion chambers (for whatever reason) aren’t able to burn off all of the fuel efficiently, so some particles of the fuel are vented out the engine, which materializes in the form of characteristic black smoke.

You can argue that the new RD-33MK is smokeless. That's true. But I can argue that you have no evidence Russia has sold the RD-33MK to China.

The B-52 is notorious for black smoke. My point is that the black smoke is coming from the engine core.

Lastly, it would make no sense for SAC to make such drastic changes to the aircraft if there were no customer for the FC-31. The FC-31 has made the same jump the J-20 did when it went from the 200X prototypes to the 201X pre-production aircraft. SAC spent a lot of money to do this, and the design is now finalized.

Also that "decreased space between engines" could mean the engine bays have changed.

The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.

 

[WarFariX]

The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.

The body is lenghtier as well as the fuselage is a bit wider

 

[UKBengali]

The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.

Impossible to be using either AL-31 or WS-10A
as the J-31 cannot fit two of these engines side by side in it's body.
Maybe WS-13X has been installed.

 

[Deino]

The decreased space between engine..., could be that the engine is bigger now? Maybe they're no longer use RD93 but AL-31 or WS-10? Because from what I read in here, somebody said that the body of the new prototype is bigger than the V1 version.

Never ever ... just look at the nozzles, they are clearly RD-33/-93 or WS-13. The WS-10 or AL-31F are massively larger.

No way the FC-31 will use such a high-thrust engine.

 

[Brainsucker]

Never ever ... just look at the nozzles, they are clearly RD-33/-93 or WS-13. The WS-10 or AL-31F are massively larger.

No way the FC-31 will use such a high-thrust engine.

View attachment 396796

But Deino, if FC-31 will be developed into Fighter for Aircraft Carrier, won't it need bigger thrust to get out from Liaoning of Shandong? Plus it's bigger than the previous prototype.

 

[帅的一匹]

But Deino, if FC-31 will be developed into Fighter for Aircraft Carrier, won't it need bigger thrust to get out from Liaoning of Shandong? Plus it's bigger than the previous prototype.

All they need to do is increasing the thrust to weight ratio of WS13, from 8.8 to 10.

 

[Beast]

But Deino, if FC-31 will be developed into Fighter for Aircraft Carrier, won't it need bigger thrust to get out from Liaoning of Shandong? Plus it's bigger than the previous prototype.

Mi-29k?

 

[Brainsucker]

Mi-29k?

Which is bigger, Mig-29K or the newest FC-31 prototype?

 

[Ultima Thule]

Which is bigger, Mig-29K or the newest FC-31 prototype?

Both are have almost same dimension

 

[damiendehorn]

Which is bigger, Mig-29K or the newest FC-31 prototype?

Both are roughly the same weight cat, while the J31 will eventually have a higher thrust engines (and reduced weight due to composite materials). The size of the wings may need to be increased to allow better carrier ops.

 

[Deino]

Ohhhh ... I want an image of the real deal in that size !! Not necessarily with the PL-12 launch.