China Shows Off Air Power at CPC Centennial Fly Past

China's new J-20 stealth fighter and Z-8L helicopter featured in fly past marking Communist Party centenary celebrations.

Atul Chandra
01 July 2021
The J-20, China's new-generation stealth fighter jets independently developed by China, featured prominently in the centenary fly past (Photo: eng.chinamil.com.cn)

 

 

China J20 Fighter: Centenary fly past

 

China's growing military aviation capabilities were on display during a fly past over the skies of Beijing on July 1, marking the 100 year celebrations of the Communist Party of China. The fly past featured a total of 71 aircraft and helicopters across six different types, belonging to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Showcased over the course of the formation flights was the Z-8L military utility helicopter in its maiden public appearance and J-20 stealth fighters, which thundered across the sky in three V formations totaling 15 aircraft. The appearance of the J-20 in such numbers is an indication that the large twin-engine fighter is being inducted into the PLAAF in larger numbers. Prior to this display, the largest J-20 fly past seen in public involved just seven aircraft.

 The PLAAF had announced the induction of another batch of J-20s into the No.1 Aviation Group in June. China also plans to power J-20s with indigenously developed WS-10C engines replacing its current Russian powerplants.

The J-20 is also to receive uprated engines with Thrust Vector Control (TVC) and initial variants will feature engines with 2D TVC nozzles. Images released by China’s state owned air framer, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in January, showed renderings of a twin-seat J-20 hinting at another configuration for the type

Chinese media also recently reported the recent display of another 5th generation aircraft in the form of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's (SAC) FC-31 with serial number ‘31001’ at the airframer’s Aviation Expo Park. The aircraft is on display to celebrate SAC’s 70th anniversary. The single engine FC-31 is smaller than the J-20 and is being proposed for carrier operations with the PLAN.

 

Chinese helicopters

Apart from the 15 J-20s and seven Z-8Ls, which took part in the flight display there were 29 Z-10, Z-19 attack helicopters, 10 J-10 fighter jets belonging to the August 1 Aerobatic Team and 10 K-8 jet trainers which also took part in the formation flights.

The new Z-8L is a larger derivative of the Z-8 utility helicopter (itself derived from Aérospatiale’s SA 321 Super Frelon) and is China’s first helicopter in the 15-tonne class.The original Z-8 was in the 13-tonne class and China has another new helicopter in the 10 tonne, the  Z-20. 

The Z-8L features a wider cabin (similar in size to the Russian Mi-17 helicopter) allowing it to accommodate a Bobcat all-terrain assault vehicle. It also features self-protection systems such as a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and IR decoys. According to the Chinese media outlet Global Times, the new Z-8L could serve in all three arms of the Chinese military and also operate from the PLAN’s new Type 075 amphibious assault ships.

Also in the flight display were 29 Z-10, Z-19 attack helicopters, 10 J-10 fighter jets belonging to the August 1 Aerobatic Team and 10 K-8 jet trainers which also took part in the formation flights.