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THE CHI NA AVI ATI ON MUSEUM DATANGSHAN
Ther er eal l yi s no ot hermus eum c ol l ec t i on qui t el i k et he Chi na Av i at i on Mus eum at Dat angs han.Themus eum i senor mous ,wi t hl ot sofai r c r af tondi s pl ay ,i nc l udi ngs omeuni que t y peswhi c har enott obes eenany wher eel s e.PaulDunnr epor t sf orGAM. Ex i s t enc e of a c ol l ec t i on of pr es er v ed, hi s t or i c ai r c r af t i n Chi naf i r s tc amet ol i ghti n1989, whent heChi naAv i at i onMus eum openedi t sdoor st ot hepubl i c .I t was c l eart hatChi na had been c ol l ec t i ngai r c r af tf ors omey ear s bef or et hat ,andt he‘ di s c ov er y ’of t he mus eum c aus ed a s t i r amongs t ent hus i as t s and obs er v er si nt hewes t . The
or i gi nal mus eum
s omewhat r udi ment ar y and c haot i c . Rec ent l yal ar ge new di s pl ay hal lopened whi c h has br oughtt he l oc at i on up t o dat e, butt hes i t es t i l lr et ai nsmuc hofi t s c har ac t er ;s omear easr es embl ea s c r apy ar dasmuc hasamus eum, butpok i ngar oundi nt hos ear eas i s def i ni t el y par toft he f un of v i s i t i ng!
s our c es .Mos tar eor i gi nal l ySov i et des i gns , es pec i al l y t he ol der mi l i t ar y ai r c r af t .Howev er ,t her e ar eal s oc ons i der abl enumber sof Wes t er nt y pes and al s o ai r c r af t whi c har epr oduc t sofChi na’ sown ai r c r af t manuf ac t ur i ng i ndus t r y . Dur i ng t he l at e 1950s ,r el at i ons wi t ht heSov i etUni onbr ok edown ov er doc t r i nal di f f er enc es ( t he Si noSov i etRi f toc c ur r edi n1960) Themus eum f eat ur esmi l i t ar yand c ut t i ng of ft he s uppl yofai r c r af t was c i v i l i an ai r c r af tf r om a v ar i et yof andt ec hnol ogyf r om t hats our c e.
Thi sVi cker sVi scountwasonceusedt ot r anspor tChi na' sl eader s
Fi nalai r c r af ti nt hel i nei sanI l y us hi nI l 18( bel ow) ,whi c hwasonc et heper s onalai r c r af tofChai r manMao. Fora s mal lc har ge ( 10 Yuan,appr oxÂŁ1) ,v i s i t or sc an v i ew t he i nt er i oroft he ai r c r af t ;al t hough i twas es s ent i al l yaVI Pai r c r af t ,c ondi t i onswer es t i l ls omewhataus t er e,Maohi ms el fwaspr ov i dedwi t has mal lc abi n andbed( bel ow r i ght ) .
Behi ndt heVI Pai r c r af ti saQi ng6mar i t i mepat r olai r c r af t .Theai r c r af ti soneof20Rus s i anbui l tBer i evBe6s s uppl i eds ec ondhandt ot hePeopl e’ sL i ber at i onAr myNav alAi rFor c e( PL ANAF)i nt he1960s .I nt he1970s , ast heor i gi nalr adi alengi nesbec amedi f f i c ul tt omai nt ai n,t hes ur v i v or swer er eengi nedwi t ht ur bopr opsand r ec ei v edt hel oc aldes i gnat i onQi ng6.Thef i r s toft wol ar gef l y i ngboat sondi s pl ay ,t hi smar i t i mepat r ol ai r c r af ti si mpr es s i v el ydi s pl ay edoni t sbeac hi nggear ,pos i t i onedonas l i pwayal ongs i deapond( bel ow) .
Af t ert hi si ni t i alr ow oft r ans por t s ,t he v i s i t ori s pr es ent edwi t hac hoi c eoft ur ni ngl ef torr i ght .To t he r i ght i st he ent r anc et ot he c av er ni ns i de Dat angs hanmount ai n,homet ot heor i gi nalmus eum di s pl ayar ea.Tur ni ngl ef tl eadst ot henew di s pl ay hal lwhi c h opened i n 2009.The pat ht ot he new mus eum hal l c ont ai ns a s er i es of s t at ues r epr es ent i ng mi l es t ones i n Chi nes e av i at i on. On ei t hers i deoft hi spat h ar er owsofai r c r af twhi c h t r ac e t he hi s t or y of Chi nes e mi l i t ar y ai r c r af t dev el opment . Ther i ghts i deoft hepat hi sdedi c at edt oj etf i ght er s and pr ov i des an ex c el l enti l l us t r at i on ofhow t he Chi nes e av i at i on i ndus t r y dev el oped i n t he pos t WWI I er a. The l i neup i s di s pl ay ed i n c hr onol ogi c alor der ,butt her ear emanyaddi t i onal ex ampl esofmos toft het y pesondi s pl ayatv ar i ous l oc at i onsar oundt hemus eum s i t e.Fi r s ti nt hel i nei s aMi G15( r i ght ) ,f amous l yf l ownbyChi nes epi l ot s al ongs i deNor t hKor eanandSov i etc ol l eaguesdur i ng t heKor eanWar .
Al t houghChi naex pr es s edani nt er es ti nbui l di ngt he Mi G15underl i c ens e,mos tai r c r af toper at edbyt he PL AAF ( Peopl e’ sL i ber at i on Ar my Ai rFor c e)wer e Sov i et bui l tMi G15s .Chi na di d bui l dt he t wo s eat v er s i on of t he Mi G15 ( Mi G15UTI ) under t he des i gnat i onSheny angJ J 2,andt her ear es ev er alof t hes e on di s pl ay ,but pr oduc t i on ofs i ngl es eat f i ght er sc ommenc edwi t ht heMi G17F,orSheny ang J 5undert heChi nes edes i gnat i ons y s t em.
The f i ght er l i ne c ont i nues wi t h ex ampl esoft heJ 5,i nc l udi ngt he Chi nes e des i gned t r ai ner ,t he ChengduJ J 5.TheJ J 5i suni que t oChi na–t her ei snoc ompar abl e Rus s i an v er s i on oft he Mi G17. TheChengduAi r c r af tFac t or ywas al s or es pons i bl ef orpr oduc i ngt he r adar equi pped al l weat her v er s i onoft heJ 5,t heJ 5A.Thi s was t he Chi nes ev er s i on oft he Mi G17PF and was pr oduc ed i n l ar genumber s ,wi t hs omeai r c r af t bei ng modi f i ed t oc ar r yai r t oai r mi s s i l es . hel ar genumberofShenyangJ 5( Mi G17F)der i vat i vesondi spl ay Thenex tSov i ett y pet obebui l ti n Oneoft a t t h e mu s e u m Chi nawast heMi G19,k nownas t he J 6.I n Sov i etand War s aw Pac ts er v i c e,t heMi G19wasnot hi ghl yr egar dedands uf f er edf r om poorr el i abi l i t y ,buti n Chi na t he ai r c r af tl as t edi ns er v i c ef ormuc h l ongerand s pawned a s er i esof dev el oped v er s i ons , as Chi na’ s ai r c r af t manuf ac t ur i ng i ndus t r y wentf r om pr oduc i ngdi r ec tc opi es of Sov i et t y pes t owar ds dev el opi ngi t sownai r c r af t .
The f i r s tJ 6 v er s i on t o be pr oduc edi nChi nawast heJ 6A, t he l i c ens e bui l tv er s i on oft he Mi G19P r adar equi pped al l weat her i nt er c ept or . The s t r ai ghtJ 6 day f i ght erac t ual l y Thi si saShenyangJ J 6,t heChi nesedevel opedt woseatver si onoft heJ 6 c amel at er ,f ol l owedev ent ual l yby (Mi G19) . t heJ 6B( Mi G19PM) ,whi c hwas equi pped wi t har adarand ar med wi t h ai r t oai r The ul t i mat e Chi nes e dev el opmentoft he Mi G19 mi s s i l es . wast heQ5‘ Fant an’at t ac kai r c r af t .Maj orc hanges wer emadet ot heor i gi nal J 6ai r f r ame,wi t ht hemos t Thes ev er s i onswer eal les s ent i al l yMi G19c opi es– obv i ousbei ng a s wi t c ht ot wi n ai ri nt ak eson t he l at er v er s i ons wer e dev el oped s ol el yi n Chi na, f us el ages i des ,i nor dert oi mpr ov ef or war dv i s i bi l i t y i nc l udi ngt heJ J 6t r ai nerandJ 6C t ac t i c alf i ght er , andi nc or por at ear adari nt henos e.Ear l yv er s i ons ex por t edast heFT6andF6C.L at erv er s i onswer e al s of eat ur ed an i nt er nalweaponsbay and s ome t er medJ 6I ,I I ,I I I ,andI V,f eat ur i ngaer ody nami c model sc ar r i ed nuc l earweapons .L at erv er s i onsof modi f i c at i onsandupgr adedengi nes ,wi t hdi f f er i ng t he Q5 ar es t i l li ns er v i c e wi t ht he PL AAF and l ev el s of s uc c es s . Howev er ,i t was al lv al uabl e PL ANAF,des pi t et he i nt r oduc t i on ofmuc h mor e ex per i enc ef orChi na’ snas c entav i at i oni ndus t r y .The moder nmul t ir ol eai r c r af t ,andot herai r c r af ts er v e mus eum hasex ampl esofmos toft hes et y peson wi t hnat i onsi nAs i aandAf r i c a.Themus eum hasan di s pl ay . ear l yQ5,al ongs i deal at erQ5Iv er s i on.
Above-A l i neupt r aci ngdevel opmentoff i ght erai r cr af ti nChi na,f r om t heMi G15t hr ought ot heJ 8
Above -TheShenyangJ 6A al l weat heri nt er cept or ,a l i censebui l tver si onoft heMi G19P
Above - A Nanchang Q5 I' Fant an'at t ack ai r cr af t . Fr om t her eart heMi G19ancest r yi seasi ert osee
Bel ow -The J 6I I Iwasone oft he Chi nese devel opment soft he or i gi nalJ 6 and f eat ur ed a modi f i ed ai ri nt ake l ayout .Thi sexampl eal sof eat ur eswi ngt i pr ai l sf orai r t oai rmi ssi l es
Anot herai r c r af tt y pewhi c hs pawnedamul t i t udeof v er s i ons was t he J 7( above) ,t he l i c ens e bui l t v er s i onoft heMi G21F.I ni t i alc ons t r uc t i onoft heJ 7 wasoc c ur r i ng att het i meoft heSi noSov i ets pl i t , meani ng t hat Chi na was f or c ed t o c ompl et e dev el opmental one.TheJ 7wasbui l ti nav ar i et yof di f f er entf or msandl at erv er s i onsar es t i l lpr oduc ed f orex por tt odayi nt hef or m oft heF7.TheF7has pr ov edapopul arc hoi c ef ormanys t at eswi t hc l os e t i es t o Chi na,es pec i al l y Af r i c an nat i ons s uc h as Ni ger i a,Nami bi aandZi mbabwe.Themus eum has an ear l yJ 7 on di s pl ay ,al ongs i de a muc hl ar ger ai r c r af twhi c hwasal s odev el opedf r om t heMi G21.
t i me,j etai r c r af tdev el opmenti nChi nawasataf ai r l y ear l ys t ageandt heSi noSov i etRi f tmeantt hathel p wasnotf or t hc omi ngf r om i t sf or meral l yt ot henor t h.
The c hos en c onc eptwas i n ef f ec ta s c al ed up, t wi nengi nedMi G21F,whi c hwasc ons i der edt obea l owr i s kt ec hni c al s ol ut i on.Dur i ngt hel at e1970s ,t he dev el opmentpr oj ec tpr oc eeded s l owl y due t ot he ef f ec t soft he“ Cul t ur alRev ol ut i on�ont hei ndus t r y andt heai r c r af tdi dnotent ers er v i c eunt i l1980.Thi s pr ot r ac t eddev el opmentmeantt hatt heai r c r af twas out dat ed by t he t i me i tent er ed s er v i c e,s o an upgr aded v er s i on,t he J 8I ,s oon f ol l owed.The mus eum hasa J 8 di s pl ay ed att he head oft he TheJ 8( bel ow)c ameaboutasar es ul tofaPL AAF f i ght er l i ne,whi l ei ns i de t he bui l di ng ar e mor e r equi r ement f or a l ongr ange i nt er c ept or ,t o adv anc edt y pes ,i nc l udi ngt heul t i mat edev el opment s uppl ementt heJ 7,whi c hwasr eal l yonl yat ac t i c al oft heJ 8,whi c hr emai nsi ns er v i c et oday ;mor eof f i ght erandl i mi t edi nr angeandper f or manc e.Att he t hatl at er .
Oppos i t et hef i ght erl i nei sas i mi l ars el ec t i onofbomber t y pes ,al t houghmanyoft heai r c r af tondi s pl ayhav e beenc onv er t edf ors pec i alr ol es .Ol des tai r c r af ti nt he l i ne i sa Tupol ev Tu2‘ Bat ’( above) ,a t y pe whi c h s er v edt hePL AAFf ormanyy ear s .Theex ampl eout s i de c ar r i es Chi nes e mar k i ngs whi l e ot her ai r c r af t ar e di s pl ay ed wi t h Nor t h Kor ean mar k i ngs ,hav i ng been us eddur i ngt heKor eanWar . TheSov i etUni on’ sf i r s tpr ac t i c alj etbomberwast he I l y us hi nI l 28‘ Beagl e’ .Chi nar ec ei v edani ni t i al bat c hof Sov i etbui l tI l 28si nt heear l y1950sandt heai r c r af t s aw ac t i onagai ns tTai wani n195455.I mpr es s edwi t h t heai r c r af t ,Chi nawask eent obui l dt heai r c r af ti t s el f , but di d not r ec ei v e a manuf ac t ur i ng l i c ens e.The br eak down i nr el at i onswi t ht heSov i etUni on meant t hatt heChi nes ewer eunabl et ogets uc hal i c ens e,but i t was dec i ded t hat pr oduc t i on woul dc ommenc e any way ,andt heBeagl ewasbui l ti nChi naundert he des i gnat i onHar bi nH5andenj oy edav er yl ongs er v i c e c ar eer . Under t he ex por t des i gnat i on B5, t he H5 was ex por t ed asf araf i el d asRomani aand Al bani a,wi t h whom i tl as t edi ns er v i c ei nt ot he21s tc ent ur y .Ther e ar et woai r c r af tondi s pl ayout s i det hemus eum,onea s t r ai ght H5 bomber v er s i on,t he ot her an HD5, c onv er t edf orel ec t r oni cwar f ar e,wi t hal ar genumber ofex t er nalaer i al sundert hef us el age.
Twooft hemos ti mpr es s i v eai r c r af ti nt hec ol l ec t i onar e nex ti nt hebomberl i ne.I nt he1950s ,whent heSov i et Uni onwasi nt hepr oc es sofmoder ni s i ngi t sbomber f l eet ,as mal lnumberofTupol evTu4swer es uppl i ed t oChi na.TheTu4was ,ofc our s e,adi r ec tc opyoft he Boei ng B29A Super f or t r es s ,f i t t ed wi t h Shv et s ov As h73TK r adi alengi nes .By t he l at e 1960s ,t hes e engi nes wer e pr ov i ng di f f i c ul tt o mai nt ai n,s ot he s ur v i v or s wer e r eengi ned wi t h Zhuz hou WJ 6 t ur bopr ops ,and s ome ai r c r af t wer ec onv er t ed f or s pec i almi s s i ons . TheChi naAv i at i onMus eum hast wos uc hai r c r af ton di s pl ay .Thef i r s t( bel ow)i sanaer ody nami ct es t bed f oranAWACSai r c r af tbas edont heTu4.I twasf i t t ed wi t har ot odomeov ert hef us el ageandot herf ai r i ngs under neat h butno r adarwas ev erf i t t ed and t he pr oj ec twasnotdev el opedf ur t her .
The ot her mac hi ne on di s pl ay ( bel ow) was c onv er t ed t oc ar r yand l aunc ht wo Chang Hong1 r ec onnai s s anc edr ones .Thi sdr onewasac opyoft he Ry an AQM34N Fi r ebee dr one us ed dur i ng t he Vi et nam War .Asa r es ul tofoper at i onall os s esof Fi r ebeesi nChi nes eai r s pac edur i ngt he1960s ,Chi na wasabl et ogat hers uf f i c i entk nowl edget or ev er s e engi neert heAmer i c andes i gnandpr oduc ei t sown v er s i on. Themos tmoder nbomberondi s pl ayi st heXi anH6, ( r i ght )anai r c r af twhi c hi ss t i l li nwi des pr eads er v i c e wi t ht hePL AAF,wi t hupdat edv er s i onss t i l lbei ngi n
pr oduc t i on.TheH6i saChi nes ebui l tv er s i onoft he Tupol ev Tu16 ‘ Badger ’ bomber , whi c h was pr oduc ed dur i ng t he 1960s .I ts t i l ls er v es as a bomber ,mi s s i l ec ar r i erandt ank erai r c r af t ,amongs t ot hers pec i al i s edr ol es . Att heendoft hel i nei samas s i v eHar bi nSH5f l y i ng boat( i nsetr i ght ) .Thi si mpr es s i v e mac hi ne was c onc ei v ed asa r epl ac ementf ort he Qi ng6,asa mar i t i mepat r olandant i s ubmar i neai r c r af t .I twas onl ymoder at el ys uc c es s f ulandonl yf ourpr oduc t i on ai r c r af t wer ec ompl et ed; t he mus eum has t he pr ot ot y peondi s pl ay .
Thei mpos i ngnew di s pl ayhal lopenedi n2009and f eat ur esawi dev ar i et yoft y pesi nc l udi ngex ampl es oft hemos tmoder nt y pesi nChi nes es er v i c e.Thes e i nc l udet heSheny angJ 11,t heChi nes el i c ens ebui l t v er s i onoft heSuk hoiSu27SK‘ Fl ank er B’ ,al t hough t heai r c r af ti spar k ed i ns uc h apos i t i on t hati ti s i mpos s i bl et ophot ogr aph.Al ongs i det heJ 11i sa pai rofChengduJ 10s( bot t om) .TheJ 10i sChi na’ s l at es ti ndi genousf i ght erdes i gn,andt hemus eum has t he i ni t i alpr ot ot y pe on di s pl ay .The ot her ai r c r af ti sat wos eatv er s i on,ex hi bi t edwi t haf ul l ai r t ogr ound weapons l oad,butt hi s ex ampl ei s t houghtt obear epl i c a. Themai n ex hi bi t i on hal li sdomi nat ed byanot her Xi anH6bomber( bel ow r i ght ) ,al ongs i des ev er al moder nPL AAFt y pes ,i nc l udi ngani mpr es s i v eXi an J H7 Fl y i ng L eopar d( above r i ght ) . The J H7 r es embl esaSEPECAT J aguar ,buti smuc hl ar ger , mor ec ompar abl ei ns i z et oanF111orSu24.The J H7i si ns er v i c ewi t hbot ht hePL AAFandPL ANAF asal ongr anges t r i k eai r c r af t .
Pr i nc i pali nt er c ept or t y pe f or t he PL AAF i st he Sheny angF8( above) .TheF8wasdev el opedf r om t heear l i erJ 8( i ti sal s or ef er r edt oast heJ 8I I )wi t h ai ri nt ak esont hef us el ages i desr at hert hant henos e i nt ak e oft he J 8.Mov ementoft he ai ri nt ak es al l owed t he i ns t al l at i on ofa moder nf i r ec ont r ol r adar .The ai r c r af tgai ned i nt er nat i onalnot or i et y when s uc h an F8c ol l i ded wi t h a US Nav y EP3 dur i ngani nt er c ept i on.
i nf or mat i on i n Engl i s h;onl yv er ybas i cdet ai l sar e pr ov i ded i n Engl i s h,whi c hi sas hameasIwoul d hav el i k edt ohav el ear nedmor eabouts omeoft he di s pl ay s ,es pec i al l yt hos edes c r i bi ngenc ount er swi t h USr ec onnai s s anc eai r c r af t .
The f arend oft he mus eum f eat ur ess ome muc h ear l i erai r c r af t ,i nc l udi ngKor eanWarv et er anai r c r af t s uc hast heMi G15( i nNor t hKor eanmar k i ngs ) ,Tu2 and Yak 11.Ther ei sal s o an ex ampl eoft hef i r s t Chi nes ej ett r ai ner ,t heSheny angJ J 1,pr oduc edi n t he l at e 1950s , al ong wi t hs ome ear l i er t y pes , i nc l udi ngaP51KMus t ang. Thedi s pl ay sc ont ai nedwi t hi nt henew hal lar ev er y c ompr ehens i v e and i nt er es t i ng but one s mal l eoft heShenyangJ J 1i ndi genousj ett r ai ner di s appoi nt ment i s t he l ac k of c apt i ons and Anexampl
Bac k out s i de and t her ei sa l ar ge s el ec t i on of t r ans por tandpas s engert y pesondi s pl ay ,mos t l yof Sov i etor i gi n,butwi t haf ew s ur pr i s est oo.Oneof t hes e i s a DC8 f or mer l y oper at ed by Or bi s I nt er nat i onalasaf l y i ngey ehos pi t al–i twasr et i r ed i n1994af t err epl ac ementbyamuc hl ar gerDC10 whi c hi ss t i l loper at i ng and per f or mi ng v i t aley e s ur ger yt hr oughoutt het hi r dwor l d. L ar ges t ai r c r af t on di s pl ay i s an I l y us hi nI l 62 ( bot t om) ,anai r c r af tonc eoper at edbyCAAC,t he f or merChi nes es t at eai r l i ne.Ot herI l y us hi npr oduc t s i nc l udet wof ur t herI l 18s ,ac oupl eofI l 12s( above l ef t )and an I l 14,a mi x ofc i v i l i an and mi l i t ar y oper at edai r c r af t . Manyoft heot herai r c r af tondi s pl ays har eaSov i et t heme.Ofpar t i c ul ar not ei s a pai r ofi dent i c al Tupol evTu124 ai r l i ner s( t op r i ght ) .The Tu124
wasas hor t r angev er s i onoft heTu104,whi c hwas onc eus edasaVI Pt r ans por tbyt hePL AAF.Ther e ar e al s o pai r s ofAnt onov An12s ( bel ow) and An24s ,al ongwi t ht woCur t i s sC46Commandosand ac ol l ec t i onoff ourDC3der i v at i v es–agenui neC47 andt hr eef ur t herL i 2s ,agai nami x t ur eofc i v i l i an andmi l i t ar yai r c r af t .
Above-Thi sC47i nUSAAFcol our sheadsupal i neof Li sunovLi 2s
Above - Thi s Har bi n Z5 was used f or casual t y evacuat i on
The PLAAF used consi der abl e number s of C46 Commandos-t woar edi spl ayedatt hemuseum
Sl i ght l yatoddswi t ht heai r c r af ts ur r oundi ngt hem i s apai rofHS Tr i dent s( r i ght ) .Chi nawasamaj or oper at oroft heTr i dent ,wi t hai r c r af tbei ngus edby CAACandt hePL AAF.Theai r c r af thadal ongc ar eer i nChi na,wi t hs omeex ampl esl as t i ngunt i lt heear l y 1990sbef or ewi t hdr awal .
Hel i c opt er sar e wel lr epr es ent ed t oo,wi t h al ar ge c ol l ec t i onofHar bi nZ5s( l i c ens ebui l tMi 4‘ Hound’ ) and Mi lMi 8son di s pl ay .Thes ewearav ar i et yof c ol our s c hemes and i nc l ude f or mer mi l i t ar y and c i v i l i anai r c r af t .Ther ot ar yar eai sdomi nat edbya hugeMi 6‘ Hook ’heav y l i f thel i c opt er( above) .
Ofpar t i c ul ari nt er es ti sapai rofHar bi nZ6s .TheZ6 ( bel ow) was an uns uc c es s f ul ( and f ai r l y unat t r ac t i v e)at t emptt o bui l d an updat ed,t ur bi ne power edv er s i onoft heZ5.Al t houghnotas uc c es s , t heZ6pr ogr ammedi dpr ov i det heChi nes eai r c r af t i ndus t r ywi t hus ef ulex per i enc ei npr oduc i ngt ur bi ne power edhel i c opt er s .
Mov i ng awayf r om t he out doordi s pl ayar eas ,t he ent r anc et ot heunder gr oundc av er ni sguar dedbya s pec t ac ul ar l ydi s pl ay edNanc hangJ 12.TheJ 12was an uns uc c es s f ulat t emptt o bui l dal i ghtf i ght er ai r c r af t ,whi c hwasc anc el l edi nt hel at e1970s .Ther e i sal s oal ongl i neofJ 6/ Mi G19v ar i ant sondi s pl ay , i nc l udi ngagenui neRus s i anbui l tMi G19PM,s uppl i ed t o Chi na as a pat t er n ai r c r af tf or s ubs equent pr oduc t i on. Above -Thi sNor t hKor eanMi G15i soneofanumber ofKor eanWarvet er anai r cr af tondi spl ay
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I ns i det hec av er n,i ti sdar k ;v er ydar ki nf ac t ;dar k enought omak ephot ogr aphyex t r emel yc hal l engi ng. Ther ei sa f as c i nat i ng c ol l ec t i on ofai r c r af tt her e t hough,al t houghs omeoft heol dert y peshav ebeen mov edt ot henew di s pl ayhal l .Thedi s pl ay si ns i de wer er ev ampedatar oundt hes amet i meast henew bui l di ngopeneds ot heyar er eas onabl yupt odat e. Mos tmoder nt y peondi s pl ayi st heJ F17Thunder ( t op) ,aj oi ntpr oj ec tbet weenChi naandPak i s t an, whi c hc aus edas t i ri n2010whenapai rofPAFj et s v i s i t ed t he UK f ort he Far nbor ough Ai r s how.The J F17as i de( andi tmaywel lbear epl i c a) ,mos tof t heai r c r af tdi s pl ay edi nt hec av er nar emuc hol der and i n mos tc as eshav e been i nt he mus eum f or manyy ear s . Par t i c ul ar l yi nt er es t i ngi sac ol l ec t i onofNor t hKor ean Mi G15s .Manyoft hes ec ar r yv i c t or ymar k i ngsont he f us el age s i de,an i nt er es t i ng c ompar i s on t ot he Sabr esf r om t hater awei nt hewes tar emor eus ed t os eei ng.Al s oador nedwi t ha‘ k i l l ’mar k i ngi sal at er Mi G17PF r adarequi pped f i ght er– appar ent l yt he ai r c r af twasus edt os hootdownaTai wanAi rFor c e P2Nept unei n1963.
Manyoft heol derai r c r af tondi s pl ayar ei nf ac tf ai r l yc r udel yc ons t r uc t edr epl i c as .Forex ampl e,t hemus eum hasadeHav i l l andMos qui t oondi s pl ay–as al v agedl ef twi ngwasus edast hebas i sf ort her es t or at i on,but t her es ul tdoes n’ tr eal l yr es embl eaMos qui t o.Thes amec oul dal s obes ai df ort heP40ands omeoft heot her ai r c r af toft hes amev i nt age. Al ongwi t ht hes eol dermac hi nest her ear epl ent yoff ur t herex ampl esoft y pesondi s pl ayel s ewher ei nt he mus eum,i nc l udi ngt hr eeH5s( oneoft hes ei saHJ 5t r ai ner )andot herex ampl esoft heJ 5/ J 6/ J 7f ami l i es . Ther ei sal s oas mal lc ol l ec t i onofi nt er es t i ngf or ei gnt y pes ,s uc hasaf or merPak i s t anAi rFor c eSabr eand Mi r ageandanI t al i anAi rFor c eF104St ar f i ght er .
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Emer gi ngonc eagai ni nt ot hes unl i ght ,t her ei smor er epet i t i oni nt heai r c r af tdi s pl ay edont het ax i way ,f i r s t l y i nt hef or m ofac oupl eofJ 8s ,J 6s ,Q5sandJ 7s .Oneoft heQ5si spar t i c ul ar l yi nt er es t i ngasi twast he pr ot ot y pef orat or pedoar medant i s hi pv er s i on,f eat ur i nganew r adari nadi s t i nc t i v edr oopednos e. Ar oundt hes l i ghtbendi nt het ax i wayi soneoft heendur i ngs i ght soft heChi naAv i at i onMus eum –ani nc r edi bl e l i neupofar ound20f i ght er s ,pr edomi nat el yi dent i c alJ 5s ,butwi t haf ew J J 2st hr owni nandaf ur t herpai rof Nor t hKor eanMi G15satt hef arend.Thel i ner es embl esapos edpr opagandaphot of r om t he1950ss howi ng t hes t r engt handnumber soft hePL AAF.Suc hphot osar e,ofc our s e,s t i l lpr oduc edt hes eday sbutnow f eat ur e s i mi l arl i nesofJ 10sorJ H7s .Des pi t et heai r c r af tbei ngmos t l yi dent i c al ,t her ei ss omet hi ngr eal l yi mpr es s i v e abouts eei ngs uc hac ol l ec t i on,es pec i al l yast her ei snotr eal l yac ompar abl es i ghti nanyot hermus eum i nt he wor l d.
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GETTI NG THERE Af ew wor dsaboutget t i ngt ot hemus eum asi t ’ snotex ac t l ys t r ai ght f or war d,butnotdi f f i c ul tei t her . Theeas i es twayi st oc at c hLi ne5oft heBei j i ngSubwayt oTi ant ongy uanSt at i on,t hemos tnor t her l y s t at i onont hel i ne. Fr om t her e,y ouc anei t hergetat ax i( about20mi ns ,c os t i ngi nt her egi onof40Yuanor£4)ory ou c anc ont i nuenor t honbus985asf arasXi aot angs hanbuss t at i ont henc hangeont obus945whi c h s t opsatt hebegi nni ngoft hemus eum’ sac c es sr oad. Engl i s hi snotwi del ys pok enout s i deoft hec ent r eofBei j i ng,s oi tmaybeani deat opr i ntoutt hename oft hemus eum i nChi nes ef r om t hef ol l owi ngwebs i t e,i nor dert oas kf oras s i s t anc e: ht t p: / / www. av i at i onmus eum. eu/ Wor l d/ As i a/ Chi na/ Bei j i ng/ Chi na_Av i at i on_Mus eum. ht m
Over al l ,t heChi naAvi at i onMuseum hast obeoneoft hemosti nt er est i ngcol l ect i onsofai r cr af t ont hepl anet .Wi t ht henew devel opment satt hesi t e,i t sf ut ur eseemssecur edespi t et her api d expansi onoft heBei j i ngsubur bst ot hesout h.Assuchi tcomeshi ghl yr ecommended,especi al l y f ort hosewi t hat ast ef orsomet hi ngdi f f er ent .