Airshow China 2018: Highlights Of The Flight Display

Three Chengdu J-20 fighters performed in Zhuhai—Nos. 78231, 78232 and 78233—reportedly the first three aircraft delivered to the Chinese air force's Cangzhou flight training base since the beginning of 2018. After the three performed a flyby, one departed, and the remaining two made several passes and turns. One of the aircraft then displayed some aerobatics.

The aircraft bear a two-tone paint scheme with low-visibility markings and additional outlines that emphasize their main and two side weapon bays. For the display, the fighters were fitted with Luneburg lenses aimed to disturb measurement of their actual radar cross-sections. The J-20 debuted at Airshow China two years ago, when two low-rate initial production aircraft performed a flyby.

The Chengdu J-10B 1034, a prototype owned by Avic, is used for the first Chinese test of thrust vector control (TVC). It performed its first flight fitted with TVC on Dec. 25, 2017. 

The J-10B testbed delivered impressive performance over Zhuhai. The Chinese nozzle is 3D—that is, deflecting up/down and left/right. The Russian twin-engine Sukhoi Su-35 fighters operated by China have 2D (up/down) nozzles, and the 3D effect is obtained by proper V-like arrangement of two 2D nozzles. It is known that Russia offers a Salyut AL-31FN-Series 4 turbofan fitted with a 3D nozzle for the  J-10 fighters; however, for obvious reasons, China prefers indigenous development.

The Xian XAC Y-20A heavy transport aircraft emphasized its short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) features, demonstrating a flyby with high-lift wing devices deployed and performing a very short landing with thrust reversers.

At least seven Y-20As are in service with the Chinese air force; deliveries started in June 2016. Aircraft No. 11056, which flew at the air show, is described as the sixth operational aircraft; No. 11057 was on the static display.