China says farewell to J-6 fighters

Rian

This aircraft type has been around for a looong time. I always hate to see old aircraft fade away no matter who they belong to.

00:43 13/06/2010

People's Liberation Army Air Force held on Saturday an official farewell ceremony for the J-6, a Chinese-built version of the Soviet MiG-19 Farmer fighter aircraft, Chinese television reported.

Although the Soviet Union stopped production of MiG-19s in 1957, the Chinese came to value the plane's agility and powerful armament and produced about 4,000 J-6 fighters from 1958 to mid-1980s.

The J-6 was the core of the Chinese fighter fleet until mid-1990s. It was exported to many developing nations and took part in a number of armed conflicts, including the Vietnam War.

China retired J-6s from combat duties in 2005. However, they have been used up to now in small numbers as remote control target drones and pilot trainers.

The export version of the aircraft, the F-6, is reportedly still in active service in Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Sudan.

The J-6 has a maximum speed of Mach 1.45 and a service ceiling of 17,900 m (58,700 ft). Combat radius with two drop tanks is about 640 km (400 mi).

In addition to the powerful cannon armament, most versions of the aircraft have a maximum payload of 500 kg (1,100 lb).


BEIJING, June 13 (RIA Novosti)

I'm not terribly familiar with the J-6 aircraft but the J-10 used to be one of my favorite jets to fly in BF2 (Battlefield 2 by EA) ....What a beauty that thing is....like a Peregrine Falcon diving for prey. Fastest creature on the planet...Reaches 200mph in it's dives..

[edit on 6/12/10 by ElijahWan]

A sad loss indeed. The J-6 always reminded me of a ChiCom copy of the old Hawker Hunter crossed with a Gloster Meteor.

It is a beautiful aircraft which harkens back to the days of sleek design much in the same way the Italians used to build racing and sports cars, that belies a far deadlier purpose.