Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA0198 Chengdu J-7III 30065, 29th Air Division, Quzhou AB, PLAAF, 1998

True 1/72 scale Professionally painted unique scheme Great attention to detail All markings are Tampoed (pad applied) Display the model on a stand or on the landing gear Canopy opens Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable

China was receiving aircraft and technical help from the USSR. When Egypt and China seemed to be looking to the US for assistance, relations with the USSR ended. To keep aircraft development going in China, Egypt sent a Mig-21MF in return for a Romeo Class SSK sub. China reverse engineered the Mig-21MF and developed the J-7C/D. Externally the J-7D was almost identical but had some improved avionics and weapons controls, many J-7Ds were just upgraded J-7Cs. This J-7D originally was an operational night fighter under the Beijing MR (Military Region) at Huairen Air Field.

Work on the Chengdu J-7 111 began in 1981 with the first flight taking place in 1984 but it wasn’t until 1992 that the PLAAF began to be equipped with them. The delay was caused by the problems the development of the WP-13 engine and its certification. The Chinese Chengdu J-7 III and the Mig-27MF have an almost identical physical appearance making the shape of the parachute brake covers one of only a few visible differences. The Chengdu J-7 III also has blown flaps. There were over 2,450 J-7 variants manufactured.

Specifications DIMENSIONS Length: 15.591m Wingspan: 7.154m Height: 4.251m Wing area: 23 square metres WEIGHTS Empty: 5,275kg Normal take-off: 7,370kg Max take-off: 9,100kg Normal landing: 5,480kg Fuel capacity: 2,080kg PROPULSION Powerplant: 1X Liyang WP-13F Thrust (dry): 44.1kN (4,497kg, 9,914lb) Thrust (afterburning): 65.17kN (6,645kg; 14,650lb)

PERFORMANCE Max level speed: Mach 2.0 (high altitude) Max climb rate: 180m/s (sea-level) Service ceiling: 18,800m Range (without refueling): Ferry range 1,740km (two AAMs and two 480 liter drop tanks); or 2,230km (three 720 liter drop tanks) Combat radius: (Loitering with two AAMs and three 720 liter drop tanks, at altitude 11,000m) 45 minutes flight and 5 minutes combat (Long-range interception with two AAMs and three 720 liter drop tanks at speed of Mach 1.5) 650km (Long-range interdiction with two 150kg bombs and three 720 liter drop tanks, hi-lo-hi) 600km (Close air support with four rocket launchers, no drop tank, lo-lo-lo) 370km In-flight refueling: No G limit: +7G ARMAMENT Fixed weapon: J-7D: 2X Type 23-III (23mm), 100 rounds per gun External hard-points: 5 (J-7D) Air-to-air missiles: PL-2, PL-5, PL-7, PL-8, PL-9, Magic R550, AIM-9 Bomb: 250/500kg free-bomb Other: 57/90/130mm unguided rocket launcher AVIONICS Flight control: WL-7 radio compass; 0101 HR A2 altitude radio altimeter; LTC-2 horizon gyro; XS-6 marker beacon receiver; VOR; Distance Measure Equipment (DME); Instrument Landing System (ILS) Fire control: SM-3A optical sight (J-7); AFS-3A lead-computing sight with Type 222 ranging radar input (J-7II); GEC-Marconi Type 956 HUD Countermeasures: South-West China Research Institute of Electronic Equipment KG-8602 RWR interfaced with the South-West China Research Institute of Electronic Equipment KG-8605 internal radar noise jammer and China National Import and Export Corporation GT-1 chaff/flare dispenser, and Type 602 ‘Odd Rods’ IFF