Wednesday, October 17, 2012

PLAN J-15 Flying Shark conducts touch and goes on the Liaoning

Click on thumbnail for larger image

Photos of the Chinese Navy's new carrier Liaoning conducting air wing trials have been making the rounds of the internet the past few days. From the photos I've seen, at least two Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark (歼-15 "飞鲨"), serialed 554 and 556 have been conducting the trials, performing a series of touch-and-goes on the deck. From the lack of deployed arrestor hooks on the J-15s, it can be assumed no full-stop landings were conducted. In addition, at least one Changhe Z-8 helicopter (locally-built SA321 Super Frelon) is known to have landed on board.

The above photo shows J-15 554 making a pass above the ship. It is painted in overall grey (the other J-15, 556, was in yellow primer) and covered liberally with photo calibration markings, but what is most interesting is what what appears to be a partially obscured shark artwork on the vertical tail (see below) of the aircraft. I can't wait to see more photos!

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