JF-17 to participate in Farnborough Air Show 2010

[Zulfiqar]

Unfortunately, due to other engagements I cannot make it to Farnborough to see the JF-17 and other machines.

A question: is it necessary for these jets to deploy brake chutes on a long runway and especially when another aircraft is following close behind? Also, following a long trip they must be quite light.

Do the fighters not use their flaps to slow down (I guess they don't have reverse thrust mechanism due to keep their weight down).

[Abbas Ali]

I believe drag chutes not only help in slowing down the combat aircraft but also help reducing wear & tear of wheel brakes.

I guess drag chute is released near the end of runway to give ample distance for the next coming aircraft to land safely. I also think that engine exhaust helps in blowing released drag chute away from runway for the safety of next coming aircraft. There also must be men positioned on ground to quickly recover released drag chute in case it falls in the centre of runway.

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

Does anybody know names of the pilots of these JF-17 "Thunders"....

Yes Tailwind, it was hard to tell how perfect and smooth the landings were from this video but i'm sure they are good ones

Connieman....I axactly dont remember a saying perhaps something like this, If you can take off again in an aircraft, the landing was good.

[TAILWIND]

Though abbas is an aviation encyclopedia but just to add. And perhaps it has been discussed before also.
----Fighters do have flaps to lower the appraoch speed for a low touch down speed.

----The fighters due to weight and space considerations do not have that heavy wheels brakes so drag chutes are used to slow down the aircraft during landing role. Also use of brakes will accelerate the brake wear.

----Before jettisoning the drage chute, the aircraft drifts to the side of the runway and a person stationed there collects the chute for repacking and re use.

----The aircraft is already very slow at that point and the following aircraft too has slowed down considerably by then (chute release point) for chute to pose any danger.


F-16 is an exception, these donot have drag chute, thanks to excellent aerodynamics, the touch down speed is very low and then highly efficient carbon fibre brakes that are capable enough to slow down the aircraft. Though F-16 for Norway have drag chutes (long chute fairing protruding from the base of vertical fin) for landings on snow covered runways.

[H Khan]

Because of the low landing speeds all the American-build fighter aircraft don't require a drag-chute. The F-14 (now retired), F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-18, F-22 and F-35 use air-brakes and wheel-brakes to slow the aircraft. For emergencies or in case of brake-failures these aircrafts are equipped with arrest-hooks. However, the manufacture do give an option for installation of drag-chute.

F-16s operated by Norway and Israel use drag-chutes

Mirage aircrafts are known to land use a lot of concrete for both take-off and landing. But Rafale naval version has arrest-hook and optional drag chutes for land operations.

All the Russian aircrafts have air-brakes and drag-chutes.

[Zulfiqar]

^^
Thank you all for the information.

[Adnan Anwar]

I would think that Western jets use ceramic brakes on newer Fighter jets, as ceramic brakes last much longer, lighter in weight and dissipate heat much more quickly than carbon based.

[PK777]

[bernyjee]

Does any one know if JF-17s made any refuelling stop(s) enroute to UK or if any air-to-air refuel arrangements were made by PAF? Not sure if extra fuel tanks were enough to help cover the entire distance between ISB and UK.

[Abbas Ali]

^ There is distance of more than 6,000 Kilometers between Pakistan and United Kingdom.

According to JF-17 Thunder specifications given on Pakistan Aeronautical Complex website www.pac.org.pk, ferry flight range for JF-17 Thunder is 2,037 Kilometers and I guess this range is for JF-17 with three external fuel tanks like seen in photo of JF-17 leaving Pakistan to attend Farnborough Air Show 2010 in UK.

Currently JF-17s are not equipped for in-flight refueling. So, it means PAF JF-17s with three external fuel tanks on their flight from Pakistan to United Kingdom must have made at least two refueling stops. Turkey or Iran might have been used as refueling stop by these two aircraft.

According to Pakistan Aeronautical Complex website, future develpment plans for JF-17 include installation of air-to-air refueling probes which apparently will enable these aircraft to be refueled in the air by PAF's own Ilyushin Il-78 Midas tanker aircraft which is equipped with drogue for refueling aircraft fitted with probe.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft (serial# 10-113 and 10-114) arrival photographed at Farnborough (FAB / EGLF), England, United Kingdom, on July 16, 2010.

Note PAF No. 26 Squadron 'Black Spiders' emblem/markings on fin sported by the two JF-17s.


Click here to see large photo.

&

Arrival of PAF Lockheed C-130E Hercules (serial# 4178) at Farnborough on July 16 as support aircraft for the two JF-17s.


Click here to see large photo.

and here's another video of JF-17 landing at Farnborough on July 16.



Abbas

[PK777]

Will the Hercules also be on display?

[cpt_747]

Salaam, just few questions..
When they are flying over different countries, do they need special permission and do they fly at the similar altitude of an airliner, i.e FL370..?
Finally, how long does it take for a JF-17 to get to the UK (from Pakistan)
I hope I don't sound stupid for asking such questions..

[ConnieMan]

and here's another video of JF-17 landing at Farnborough on July 16.



Abbas

How come this video is so FAST!, it's taken out the realism of the JF-17's true landing speed and performance.....

[Abbas Ali]

When they are flying over different countries, do they need special permission

PAF must have made advance arrangements and flight plans and obtained permission where required to overfly countries for JF-17's flight from Pakistan to UK and similarly for any other PAF aircraft that overflies other countries.

An aircraft entering another country without proper permission/flight plan can be forced to land by air defence forces of that country.

Will the Hercules also be on display?

If there's any C-130 Hercules on display at Farnborough Air Show then it would be latest model of the aircraft put on display by Lockheed Martin.

As mentioned earlier, PAF C-130 has arrived at Farnborough as support aircraft for the two JF-17s. The PAF C-130 is not among aircraft to be exhibited at this air show. The PAF C-130 most probably will be parked away from air show area.

The PAF C-130 must have arrived at the show with PAF officials, JF-17 maintenance team including technicians and mock bombs, missiles etc. to be displayed/attached with JF-17 which will be on static display at the show.

I hope JF-17 manages to grab attention and bag some orders. According to recent news reports, Turkey has shown interest in JF-17.

Abbas