Recently, on the test flight runway of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
A J-35 aircraft with a green base paint
Soaring into the sky
Launching the "First Flight of the New Year"
This means that flight testing will be fully underway throughout the year.
This is also the first time the official disclosure has been made.
J-35 flight footage shown with primer
Why is the J-35 test aircraft a "green-skinned plane"?
Firstly, it is for the purpose of corrosion prevention and basic protection.
The J-35's airframe is made of
Composed of a large number of metals and composite materials
In the early stages of manufacturing, assembly, and flight testing
The surface of the aircraft will be exposed to humid air.
Extremely prone to electrochemical corrosion
The green primer contains chromate.
It has extremely strong anti-corrosion and anti-rust properties.
Provides for metal fuselage
The most basic and most important protection
Just like when decorating a house
"Moisture-proof putty" or primer applied to the unfinished wall surface
Prevent internal damage
Secondly, for practical considerations in engineering test flights.
During the maiden flight and initial test flight phase
The core goal of the engineering team
Verify the aircraft's flight performance
Basic qualities such as handling and structural strength
Maintain a simple "green skin" state
To facilitate engineers to inspect the fuselage surface
Perform inspection, labeling and repair
Thirdly, there is the issue of cost.
Before the design and condition are fully solidified
Applying expensive formal paint is a waste.
Once the fuselage structure needs modification
These coatings will need to be sanded off and redone.
As test flights progress
The aircraft will gradually enter different stages of painting.
Only when mass production coating stage is reached
Only then will it be painted with the official combat camouflage.
Besides green, during the test flights of Chinese military aircraft...
Yellow paint is also very common.
It is affectionately known as the "Yellow-skinned Airplane" by many military enthusiasts.
It is also the "raw" state of the aircraft.
Regardless of whether it's a "green-skinned" or a "yellow-skinned" aircraft
All of these foreshadow the emergence of new models or new capabilities.
Thumbs up for this major national achievement!
