Summary of J-20’s first flight

China choose to fly its J-20 stealth fighter on 11-1-11 from the No. 132 aircraft plant in Chengdu’s Huang Tian Ba airport at 12:50 hrs local time.


The aircraft made three orbits around the airfield escorted by a J-10S, tail no. 220, before landing at 13:08.

Shortly before the flight, two Boeing 737s (registration B-4018, B-4020) landed at the airfield.

Katsu pointed out an interesting observation before the flight. The Chinese choose to make a high-speed take-off run in the morning before making the maiden flight. This is different compared to Western testing methods as data from the aircraft would have to be analyzed after the run and a flight is unlikely later in the day. This could mean that the aircraft may have been tested elsewhere earlier and today is its public outing.