Product Description

Shrouded in secrecy, output from the Chinese aviation industry was, until recently, largely unknown in the West.

In the 1950's, when communist China and the Soviet Union were on friendly terms the Soviet Union assisted in the setting up of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) by delivering combat aircraft and training Chinese personnel.

Following the 1960's rift between Moscow and Beijing, the Chinese authorities set up an indigenous aircraft industry and as they gained experience, versions of Soviet aircraft started appearing together with their own designs.

Chinese Aircraft provides a full description of all aircraft types including, amongst others, the Shaanxi Y8, the Chengdu JF-17 (FC-1) light fighter which is now entering service with the Pakistan Air Force, the Shenyang J-10 and the KJ-2000 AWACS aircraft based on the Il'yushin IL-76. It also details the factories and design institutions representing the industry over the years including, Chengdu, Guizhou, Shenyang, Xian and Chiange and compares early and late designs to show how those organisations developed.

A special section deals with experimental types and the latest research and development whilst further sections are devoted to aircraft weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles and Chinese aircraft exports on a country by country basis.

For the first time, numerous colour profiles and three view drawings are illustrated together with logos of the production enterprises and design institutions to form a comprehensive guide to Chinese aircraft and China's aviation industry.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83632 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 264 pages

Review
This is Crécy's latest book under the Hikoki label and what a book it is! As far as I am aware this is the first book published in English covering this subject - certainly in such depth.

Sorting out Soviet aircraft designations has always been difficult, as they always seem to have two, but this is nothing compared with the Chinese! Having no indigenously designed aircraft, they purchased machines from the Soviet Union and then built them under licence with their own designation. But then they started to modify them, thus producing aircraft unique to them and, eventually wholly, Chinese designs.

After a chapter chronicling the Chinese aircraft industry we move to the first section dealing with the actual aircraft, in this case 'Fighters'. Each individual variant of each aircraft is explained. The first machine the Chinese decided to build under licence was the MiG-15 but this was abandoned and they only produced the MiG-15UTI, designated Shenyang JJ-2.

Ffollowing this was the MiG-17 and so started the modification process. One such machine that was not adopted was the Shenjang J-5 (MiG-17F) Torpedo Bomber, which must have been quite a sight. Then followed the later Soviet fighters - MiG-19 and MiG-21, all modified for Chinese needs. Alltogether there are seventeen machines described, some single types, others in a series. For instance the J-7 (MiG-21) section contains pages of side-view line drawings illustrating no less than twenty-one variants.

It goes without saying that the text is supported with masses of colour photographs and colour profiles. I could spend a lot longer on this section but after mentioning the fully described J-10 family of indigenousness fighters that concludes this chapter, I must move on.

The next section is entitled 'Bombers'. Again we start with imports and the well-known conversions of the Tu-4 (B-29). Refitted with WJ-6 Turbo-props and converted to carry reconnaissance drones it changed its appearance but not as much as installing the dish. We then move on to the Zian H-6 (Tu-16). Again it was modified for Chinese needs. Another interesting conversion was the Qing-6, which was a re-engined Beriyev Be-6, followed by the mighty Harbin SH-5 Bomber/ASW flying boat.

The following categories are 'Strike Aircraft', then `Trainers', `Airliners' and `Transports'. Again, containing many fascinating subjes. For instance, there is the Shaanxi Y-8 family of four-engined transports, an aircraft with eighteen derivatives illustrated.

Chapter 7 covers `Special Mission Aircraft' and it includes details of the Xian KJ-2000 with its AEW dish - a real showstopper. There are then chapters on `Light Utility Aircraft', `Helicopters' and even `UAV's.

This book is magnificent, it is one of the most comprehensive I have ever had the pleasure of reading. With over 650 photographs, over 100 side-view drawings and at least 110 colour profiles it must be a best seller and is a book that I heartily recommend.

Ernie Lee
Thanks to Crécy Publishing for the review copy --Model Aircraft Monthly - Jan 2009

Though it hasn't always been that way, China is currently one of the giants in the aviation industry and one of the few left in the world where most of their aircraft are built entirely within national borders. But it wasn't always like that. Prior to the 1949 revolution, China's aircraft industry was little more than aircraft maintenance and rework with only a very few places assembling or manufacturing aircraft, and most all of those of foreign design. Being in a constant state of war didn't help things and it was the unifying force of the communist take-over that allowed that to happen.
Initially, and to some extent nowadays, the Chinese basically back engineered designs of other companies or modified extant aircraft it was building under license to meet their own needs. In the early years of the 1950s, it was pretty much Soviet designed aircraft that were the produced, thanks to the assistance provided by the Soviet Union. However, in the 1960s a rift occurred between the two countries that required the Chinese to pretty much go it alone and from that, a huge aircraft industry was to grow. Nowadays, Chinese designs are pretty much extensively used in all aircraft types, though it seems that in helicopters, a lot of French influence is still very much visible.
In this book by aviation author Yefim Gordon, and Dimitriy Komissarov, we get an in-depth look at all the various types that have been developed by the Chinese over the years. In addition, we look at the various aircraft industries that have grown up to produce these designs. The book starts off with a brief background into the various design bureaus and the people who now head the various factories. Then things are broken down into the types that have and are being built. It starts with Fighters, then Bombers, Strike Aircraft, Transports and Airliners, Special Mission aircraft, Light Utility aircraft, Helicopters and UAVs. Each section includes the prototypes, variants and sub-variants of each type including what is currently being developed or on the drawing boards.
Each section is superbly illustrated with photographs, many of them in full color. There are also line drawings and color profiles of most of the important types. This includes aircraft built for export as the Chinese have been doing very well in that particular area. One of their most important export customers have been Pakistan and Albania with other smaller nations also receiving aircraft of Chinese manufacture.
It is a book that is quite complete and will offer hours of reading pleasure and is sure to find a prominent place on anyone's reference shelf. It is one that I thoroughly enjoyed and can easily recommend to you as well.
Scott Van Aken
--modelingmadness.com - August 2009

While much is known about Western aviation industry, and there is a growing historiography on Soviet and Russian aviation industry, very little has been published detailing the aviation industry of China. This large tome from Hikoki Publications aims to change that, with a detailed look at the Chinese aviation industry from 1951 to present day. This is a challenging task, but the authors have done an excellent job of compiling the available information and presented it in a logical manner.

Following a short introduction on the Chinese aviation industry as a whole, the book is broken down by aircraft types. This includes fighters, bombers, strike aircraft, trainers, airliners & transports, special mission aircraft, light utility aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. Within each section, the aircraft are covered in a chronological manner, allowing for an examination of technology growth within the industry (those derivative aircraft such as fighter trainers are grouped with their original aircraft, thus allowing for more continuity in the text).
The histories of each aircraft vary in length, but in general are quite thorough and discuss many of the issues surrounding their development. While many of these aircraft are license-built Soviet aircraft, others are indigenous designs, and combined they show the skills of both manufacturing and design. The current crop of aircraft coming out of Chinese factories are quite interesting, with the J-10 and JF-17 both being modern fighters with excellent capabilities. The most interesting for me, though, is the JL-9 trainer, which looks like a completely new aircraft until one recognizes the unmistakable MiG-21 vertical tail. This is definitely a great example of using an existing well-engineered part and adding modern elements to create a highly effective aircraft.

In addition to the text, the book is packed with photos, easily making this the most complete photo reference of Chinese aviation currently available. Most of these photos are in color, and as such also capture the varied colors and markings worn by many of these aircraft. Also included are dozens and dozens of excellent color profile illustrations, as well as scale drawings. All together, the result is an outstanding reference on Chinese aviation, and one that will have many looking for kits of some of these aircraft.

Chris Banyai-Riepl - Internet Modeller - 01/09/2009 --Internet Modeller - 01/09/2009

The authors Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov have put out another book about little known projects from the far east. Both authors are world famous for their research into Russian aircraft history and have published more than 150 books on the subject. This time they have done amazing research into the little known Chinese aviation industry. The book has easy to read text and is lavishly illustrated with crisp clear photos and many, many detailed line drawings and color side-view paintings.

When communist China and the Soviet Union were on good terms in the 1950's, the Soviet Union assisted the Chinese Government to set up manufacturing facilities to build planes of Soviet design. Since the Mig 17 (J-6 Chinese designation), the Chinese have been building and eventually designing their own aircraft. The primary design/manufacturing companies are Avic, SAIG (Shanghai Aviation Industries Group), Xian, and Shenyang.

The book is formatted in a logical manner: Chapter 1 covers the industry manufacturers and the leaders. Chapter 2: Fighters, Chapter 3: Bombers, Chapter 4: Trainers, Chapter 5: Strike Aircraft, Chapter 6 thru 10 are Airliners, Transporters, utility, helicopters and UAV's.

The book goes into great detail of design through development, and all variants of the aircraft including the engines. The multitude of illustrations is a gem for modelers looking for unique and colorful ways to paint and decal their model.

I found the `fighters' and `strike aircraft' section to be most interesting. I am humbled at how little I knew about all the aircraft that the Chinese have developed. I was also surprised to learn that the Pakistani and Indian Air Force are supplied by the Chinese as well.

Now for the first time, Chinese Aircraft records the Chinese aircraft industry developments and achievements; and provides a complete list of all aircraft produced presenting a unique insight into this previously unknown world. I am hoping this book will motivate the model kit producers into making more models of Chinese designed aircraft. The only company doing this is Trumpeter. They have produced kits in 1/72 and 1/144 scale so far (and they are based in China). I have really enjoyed this reference book because of the style that the authors used to highlight all the aircraft. I am very motivated to buy kits of these aircraft now and, in some cases, do some conversions of Russian aircraft to Chinese variants!

Hats off to Mr Gordon and Komissarov to a well produced book. Again they have enlightened us all on what goes on in the far eastern world of aviation!

Thanks to IPMS USA and Specialty Press for allowing me to read this wonderful book. I will refer back to it over and over. --Adam Johnson - IPMSUSA

Review
SUBTITLED CHINA'S aviation industry since 1951. This new book is very welcome. Since for many years little came out of China concerning its aviation activities. Like the Russian books by these authors, this is a detailed account and shows how much China based its aircraft on
established Russian designs.
The country's Bureau of Aviation Industry was established in 1951 and began to build aviation factories with Soviet assistance. But production did not begin until 1954 with the Nanchang CJ-5 primary trainer, a Iicensed built Yak-17.
Looking through the pages, one immediately recognises the familiar Russian types - MiGs, Sukhois, lIyushins and Tupolevs etc, but some indigenous Chinese designs emerged, mainly trainers etc. In the transport field the An-24 was built as the Xian X7 series. While the four-engined An-12 became the Shaanxi V8, also built in a number of versions from commercial airliner to gunship, but an original Chinese design was the Harbin Y11 utility aircraft developed into the Y12 and closely resembling a B-N Islander!
The Embraer 145 is being built in as a joint venture between Brazil and China while the ARJ21 airliner follows on from Chinese production on the MD-82. Helicopters, light aircraft and UAVs are also covered.
This is an impressive book, well-produced and copiously illustrated, mostly in colour, and gives a good impression of a busy industry, but don't expect to find details of how many of each type were built - there are obviously some areas on which the Chinese are reticent!

MIKE HOOKS

Review
The subject of this new Hikoki volume is the Chinese Aircraft industry since 1951 and it will undoubtedly be the first place historians will now go for any information on modern Chinese aircraft from fighters and bombers through transports, helicopters - and even to light aircraft and UAVs. It is easy to write off all their aircraft as "Chinese copies" and reverse-engineered Russian designs certainly dominate the early years, but advanced combat designs such as the Chengdu J-10 and FC-1 and trainers such as the K-8 and JL-9 show that Chinese designers are working at the cutting edge. As with all Hikoki books, the reproduction and print quality are excellent and there is a wealth of photos of familiar types developed into unusual variants. We were intrigued by the SLAC HU-1 powered glider - which looks suspiciously like an SZD Ogar and the XADRI Small Eagle-100 microlight which is a copy of the Eipper Quicksilver. They have even copied the SOCATA Trinidad (as the LE-500). An intriguing book, indeed.