F-8 Finback

The Chinese F-8 Finback is actually the first Chinese aircraft designed in-country - work began in 1964. The actual airplane is not much of a match for modern fighters, in fact, experts compare it to the US F-4 Phantom, which saw service in the Vietnam War. However, even this obsolete fighter is capable of supersonic flight, in stark contrast to the EP-3E that one of them clipped on that fateful day.

Type Intercept
Builder Shenyang Aircraft
Wing Span 30 ft in ( 9.3 m)
Length 70 ft 10 in (21.6 m)
Height 17 ft 9 in ( 5.4 m)
Weight 21,600 lb ( 9,820 kg) empty
31,500 lb (14,300 kg) normal takeoff
39,200 lb (17,800 kg) max takeoff
Engine 2 Wopen 13A-II turbojets @ 14,815 lbst thrust
Maximum speed 1,450 mph / 2,340 km/h / Mach 2.2
Cruising speed 800 mph / 1,300 km/h
Ceiling 18-20,000 meters
Range 700 nm / 1300 km cruise radius (est.)
Internal Fuel 3994 kg
Drop Tanks
  • 480 L drop tank with 383kg of fuel for 34nm range
  • 800 L drop tank with 639kg of fuel for 56nm range
In-Flight Refueling No
Crew One
Sensors Izmurd raging radar, RWR, Ballistic bomb sight. Will be upgraded with APG-66 radar
Armament
  • 2 23mm Cannon (J-8 only; not found on J-8II)
  • 1 underfuselage hardpoint
  • 6 underwing hardpoints for fuel, bombs, rockets, or missiles
  • 4 PL-2 or PL-7 and 800 L drop tank (680 nm)
  • 2 PL-2 or PL-7 and 2 480 L drop tank and 1 800 L drop tank (741nm)

Information taken from the Federation of American Scientists military information page.

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