Chinese `eagle' set to soar ( 2003-12-16 01:26) (China Daily)
The backer of China's fighter-pilot trainer -- the "Mountain Eagle" -- is
looking to get the machine flying both in Chinese and foreign skies, a military
aviation official said yesterday in the national capital.
Mountain Eagle, a homemade fighter-pilot
trainer, is seen in this file photo.
[chinadaily.com.cn]
The revelation came after the
plane, known as "Shanying" in Chinese , made its maiden flight in the
southwestern province of Guizhou at the weekend.
According to Wu Hailing from the China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I),
mass production of the plane will begin in 2005 to satisfy the needs of domestic
and foreign markets.
"Shanying"s excellent maneuverability , advantageous price, plus its
flexibility to cater to customer requirements will make it very competitive
internationally, said Wu, director of the Military Aircraft Development
Department of AVIC I.
"Shanying" can be used to train pilots before they take to both second and
third-generation fighters,'' he said. "Apart from training members of the
Chinese air force, it can serve developing countries, including those who have
imported Chinese-made fighters.''
The plane was manufactured by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Group under AVIC
I.
It is powered by a turbo fan engine and is equipped with an advanced airborne
electronic system, Wu said.
The official declined to disclose other aircraft specifications, but said it
was displayed at an airshow in Zhuhai in South China's Guangdong Province last
year. It attracted keen interest from many visitors in China and abroad.
Zhou Wancheng, president of the Guizhou company, said the trainer was
designed and developed based on nine years of market research.
Many countries are upgrading their fighter aircraft, and the ratio between
fighter planes and trainers usually stands at 4-6:1, according to some
established Chinese experts.
Zhou said the all Chinese developed and manufactured plane can easily be
turned into a fighter aircraft.
The ability to train pilots to fly second and third-generation planes, and
its high reliability and low operation cost will give "Shanying" an edge, Zhou
said.
Qian Zhaoquan, a pilot who tested the plane, said he was satisfied with
"Shanying"
It allows pilots good vision and maneuvers in a simple, stable and accurate
manner, the pilot said, acknowledging all the equipment worked well during
testing.
"If I had to rate it, it would score a 4.5 out of 5,'' Qian
said.
