1989 Paris Air Show: Su 27 is too domineering, MiG 29 crashes, only J-8 soy sauce

 In the era without the Internet, defense exhibitions and air shows of various countries are like mirrors. Participants understand their own strengths through comparison, and buyers find military products they need through air shows.

At the 1987 Paris Air Show, a new face came—China! The western world looked at those war eagles from the far east with curious eyes, and let out a meaningful sigh!

my country's aerospace industry has also used the mirror of the Paris Air Show to find its own shortcomings, pinpoint its own position, and witness its growth in the following decades. Since then, China's aviation industry has gone global, the traditional thinking that was relatively closed in the past has been continuously broken, and new achievements have been continuously made in various aspects.

▲The J-8II fighter that first walked out of the house in 1989

In the 1970s, China began to organize delegations to participate in the airshows organized by the United Kingdom and France, but only the Civil Aviation Administration and the Third Aircraft Department organized delegations to participate, mainly for observation.

In August 1986, AVIC represented China Aviation Industry at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom for the first time, but at that time it only carried the F-8Ⅱ, F-7M, F-Education 7, Qiang 5, Yun 7, Yun 8, Yun 12, and Zhi The 9th-class model was exhibited, and the booth was only 18 square meters. The layout was simple. In addition to the model and photos, there were several cloisonne bottles.

In those days, many foreigners thought that China was here to sell airplane models or crafts!

On June 12, 1987, the 37th Paris Air Show opened.

For the first time, China’s aviation industry sent a delegation to participate in the Paris Air Show. This time it is no longer just with models. Domestic companies have brought 3 aircraft: Yun-12II, Qiang-5C and Jianjiao 7, although these three models The aircraft was relatively backward, but it was already able to represent the level of China's aviation industry at that time, and it caused quite a stir in the Western aviation industry, and it was finally possible to get close to the Chinese fighter aircraft!

▲ The strong -5C attack aircraft that participated in the 1986 air show

The Paris Air Show not only provides an international stage for China's aviation industry to display its achievements and image, but also provides a window for China to observe the world's latest aviation technology, and at the same time creates an opportunity to promote cooperation and exchanges between China and the West.

It was during the honeymoon period of Sino-French cooperation. President Mitterrand visited the Chinese booth after attending the opening ceremony. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of Sino-French aviation industry cooperation and exchanges, especially the successful cooperation between the two sides to produce Zhi-9 helicopters.

At that time, there were even rumors planning to export Mirage-2000 fighter jets to China.

▲The Chinese delegation has tested the Mirage 2000

Then, in June 1989, at the 38th Paris International Air Show, in addition to Yun-12II, Qiang-5C and JJ-7, China also sent the newly-developed J-8II fighter jet No. 4 prototype to the exhibition.

The debut of the J-8II caused an even greater sensation: "China’s and Chinese aircraft have also come to the exhibition." "The Oriental Sleeping Lion has finally woken up!" The J-8 II was the most advanced fighter jet in China at the time. The air intake of the nose is changed to a two-side air intake layout, and a larger fire control radar is installed.

▲The first appearance of the J-8II fighter jet in Paris was the Paris Air Show in 1989

The beautiful-looking fighter "Cai Guoqing" that we now call military fans appeared in the eyes of the Western world in 1989.

The J-8II fighter completed its first flight in 1984, and the design was finalized in 1988. Relying on the adjustable air inlets on both sides and the WP-13AII engine with greater thrust, the maximum level flight speed of Mach 2.2 can be reached when two air-to-air missiles are mounted, and the medium and low altitude performance has also been improved.

▲The typical mounting method of the J-8II fighter at the time

Does not have mid-range interception ability

However, because the F-8II's airborne radar does not have the function of semi-active radar guidance, the development of the Pili 4 medium-range air-to-air missile is lagging behind. Therefore, the F-8II that was unveiled in Paris at that time still did not have the ability to combat beyond the visual range, and could only carry 4 combat. Missiles, 2 rocket launching nests and a set of 6-unit low-resistance aerial bomb belly pylons.

The J-8II did not install the SL-8 radar until the first flight of the second batch in November 1989. New equipment such as a new air data computer, a head-up fire control system, a communication/navigation/data transmission system, etc. were installed. The J- The 8II also initially possessed the ability to intercept mid-range and a certain amount of ground attack.

▲The test screen of the F-8II carrying PL-4 semi-active radar guided missile in the early years

At the Paris Air Show at that time, the fighters were all Western third-generation (hereinafter referred to as fourth-generation) fighters. Fighters like the J-8II that barely squeezed into the ranks of second-generation fighters would naturally not win any orders.

On the contrary, those third world countries are interested in China's Yun-12, Qiang-5C and J7-7 aircraft. The large but weak J-8II fighter jets can only be used as vases to attract the attention of visitors.

▲ "Aerial Cai Guoqing" is good to go abroad to be stimulated!

This allowed Chinese aviation scientists to understand that there was a big gap between the J-8II and the world's mainstream fighters at that time.

This pressure has inspired the Chinese aviation industry to continue to move forward. Chinese aviation scientists have paid more attention to the development trend of international aviation equipment and accelerated innovative research and development, which laid the foundation for the explosive development of China's aviation industry.

At the Paris Air Show in 1989, the Soviet Union presented the classic Su-27 fighter for the first time, letting the Chinese Air Force know what it wanted.

At the same time, the Soviet MiG-29 fighter jet crashed during the aerobatic performance at the 1989 Paris Air Show. In the future, the Mikoyan Design Bureau wanted to trick us into buying the MiG-29, and we decided not to!

▲ MiG-29 crashed out of control during a flight show

The pilot survived ultra-low altitude parachuting,

Smashed the MiG 29's signboard to advertise the K-39 ejection seat

But what is gratifying is that China’s aviation industry has already surpassed the rapids and is taking a new road in line with national conditions. This road will still have difficulties and setbacks, but as long as it adheres to the spirit of innovation and truthfulness, this road will definitely It will go wider and wider and brighter.

Although the J-8II is old, it is still fighting in the blue sky of the motherland. Although the latest J-8F and the former J-8II are similar in appearance, they are no longer the same.

▲The Chinese fighter jets at the 1987 Paris Air Show are published in Aviation Knowledge.

Open the door to see the world, and see yourself clearly! well! And now, we in China ourselves have begun to hold air shows.