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Picture Gallery
Su-27 (courtesy of S, XB, T & ZJC)
The tail fin of Su-27 #22 was painted with PLAAF's insignia and its serial number -- 13242, where 22 (the code for the aircraft) is taken apart and inserted into 134 (the number for the unit, 3rd Division). This is a common practice adopted by PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation, and the 2nd batch of Su-27 is represented by the unit number of 163 (2nd Division). However, the Su-27 case is unique because the aircraft carries both the code and serial number, while most other types are painted with the serial number only. The serial numbers for the Su-27 fleet (identified so far) are listed below: 
Code  S/N    Type  Code  S/N    Type  Code  S/N    Type
01    13041  UBK   27    16237  UBK   51           UBK 
02    13042  SK*** 28    16238  UBK   52           UBK 
03    30003  UBK   29    16239  UBK   53           UBK 
04    13044  UBK   30    16330  UBK   54           UBK 
05    13045        31    16331  UBK   55           UBK 
06    13046        32    16332  UBK   56           UBK 
07    13047        33    16333        57           UBK 
08    13048        34    16334        58           UBK 
09    13049        35    16335                         
10    30100        36    16336                         
11    30101        37    16337                         
12    30102        38    16338                         
13    30103        39    16339                         
14    13144        40    16430                         
15    13145        41    16431                         
16    13146        42    16432                         
17    13147        44    16434                         
18    13148        45    16435                         
19    13149        46    16436                         
20    13240        47    16437                         
21    13241        48    16438                         
22    13242        49    16439                         
23    13243        50    16530                         
24**  30204                                            
25*          UBK                                       
26*          UBK
* #25 and 26 were reportedly donated by Russians for evaluation purpose, but this was never confirmed. It is possible that Chinese ordered 26 instead of 24 Su-27s.
** Some of the 3rd Division's Su-27s were transferred to the 19th Division (30x0x) while the former were receiving Su-30MKKs.
*** #2 UBK was lost in an accident and was replaced by an SK.
JH-7 (courtesy of CWL, W & JL)
A PLA Naval Aviation JH-7 (#78) was taking off for a training mission. Around 23 JH-7s were produced before XAC ran out of 50 Spey MK202 turbofans imported in 70s. More JH-7s may be produced when the indigenous engine (WS-9) is available. Here is the list of all the examples identified so far:
 
Code  S/N     Code  S/N     Code  S/N     
81*           70    81760   80    81860   
83*           71    81761   81    81861   
84*           73    81763   82    81862   
85*           74    81764   83    81863   
              75    81765   84    81864   
              76    81765   85    81865   
              77    81767   86    81866   
              78    81768   87    81867   
              79    81769   88    81868
* 81, 83, 84 & 85 are prototypes. 82 was probably lost during a test flight.
Mi-6 (courtesy of CWL)
A rare photo of Mi-6 Hook heavy-lift helicopters in service of PLA army aviation is shown here. Only a limited number of Mi-6s (3? 0120-0122) are thought to be bought in 1970 from USSR (after the 1969 border conflict) but had not been revealed to the public until recently. Being one of the largest helicopters in the world (cruise speed 250km, range 620km, max load 12t), this monstrous machine did somehow enhance PLA's air-transport capability, even though only on a limited scale. Nonetheless, after three decades, this sole fleet of Mi-6 in PLA's inventory is approaching the end of its service life and there seems to be no plan to replace it. Currently the demand for CH-47 class medium transport helicopters is actually much greater.
AS-532 (courtesy of SL)
Six Super Pumas are in service with PLAAF (serial number 21X2). They were purchased in the 1986 and mainly serve as VIP transport helicopters. Some specifications: max TO weight 9,000kg, max speed 278km/h, range 618km, ceiling 3,500m.
HMS (courtesy of WB & HY)
A rare photo of PLAAF Su-27 pilot wearing HMS (Helmet-Mounted Sight) is shown here. The NSts-27 HMS allows the pilot to lock up a target up to 60° off the aircraft axis with his R-73/AA-11 IR guided AAM. Its lightweight bracket-mounted design with a small sighting reticle (retracted underneath the mount) is simple but effective. However the extent of Chinese Su-27 pilots exploiting the deadly HMS/R-73 combination in dogfight is thought to be very limited.
SA-316 (courtesy of CWL)
The remaining of China's SA-316 Alouette III fleet (around 8) are now in service at the Army Aviation training regiment (serial number 901xx). These SA-316s were acquired in the late 60s by CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) as light utility and transport helicopters. Some were later assigned to PLAAF and eventually transfered to the Army Aviation after its establishment in the mid-80s. They are expected to be gradually replaced by the newly built Z-11s. Some specifications of SA-316: max speed of 210km/h, ceiling 6,500m, max range 565km, weight 2,100kg.
An-30
A group of cadets at a PLAAF flight academy were being briefed on the ground before a training mission onboard an An-30 Clank aerial survey aircraft. It was believed that a number of An-30s (8?) were imported from Soviet Union in the late 70s and used by CAAC as geological survey and photographic aircraft. They were later transfered to PLAAF and used as training aircraft for Y-8 and/or H-6 navigators, besides their usual function as aerial survey aircraft. Some specifications of An-30: cruising speed 430km/h, range 2,630km, ceiling 7,300m, max weight 23,000kg.
J-7FS
One of the newest members of CAC's J-7 family currently undergoing flight test is J-7FS experimental aircraft. It first flew on June 8, 1998. This aircraft appears to be a much modified J-7B testbed featuring the new chin air-intake (similar to American F-8 Crusader) and a solid nose with enough room for a modern fire-control radar antenna (diameter>600mm). Other modifications include a more powerful WP-13FII (78kN/8,000kg) turbojet, MFD, new weapon-management computer and GPS. Further modified J-7FS-2 features a J-7E style double-delta wing and one-piece windshield. Some technology tested on J-7FS may be applied to the F-7MF or even FC-1 project. It is believed that the test program was completed and the project has been terminated.
F-7MP (courtesy of NN)
F-7MP is a further upgraded variant of F-7P with improved cockpit layout and navigation system. PAF ordered 60 F-MPs during the late 80s, then later took delivery of another 80 aircraft. It was reported that subsequently all F-7Ps were upgraded to MP standard but this has not been confirmed. Both F-7P and F-7MP are gereranlly referred to as F-7P since the external difference is minimum. The most noticeable feature of F-7MP is the BM/KJ-8602 RWR antennas on top of the vertical tail. In the mid-90s PAF planned to replace GMAv Skyranger ranging radar with the more powerful FIAR Grifo 7 multi-mode fire-control radar, but the project was postponed until recently due to certain technical and/or financial difficulties.
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