September 2012 Archives

It's been a big few weeks for China, with the emergence of a new fighter (J-21? J-31? F-60?) and this week's christening of the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier. It's a good sign they didn't name it Shi Lang after the historic admiral who invaded Taiwan in 1683. Of course, they could always call their next (and certainly more capable) aircraft carrier after this grand individual.

The big question, of course, is when the Liaoning will commence flight tests. In the below Youtube interview with the ship's captain I listened carefully for a first flight date, but he kept mum on this. I guess the reporter was under orders not to ask. For my part, I would have pressed him hard on this.

With luck Beijing will give the commencement of flight ops the same heavy coverage given to the christening. Perhaps Hu Jintao or Wen Jiaobao will fly out to the ship to watch Su-33s performing arrested landings and ramp-assisted take offs.

Though the Liaoning will never be as capable as a US carrier, it sounds like it will be more fun. Buried in an article entitled "Q&A about aircraft carrier "Liaoning Ship"" on the defence ministry web site, I found this paragraph about the crew's R&R options:

"The aircraft carrier "Liaoning ship" has messes, supermarket, post office, laundry rooms, gym, rubbish disposal stations and so on. Even the bars have both the noisy type and the quiet type. Therefore, the life is relatively convenient on board."

Sadly, the US Navy has no bars - either noisy or quiet - on any of its ships. This extends back to 1914 and secretary of the navy Josephus Daniels, a rabid abolitionist.

How cool would it be to stand on the bridge of the Liaoning, beer in hand, observing Su-33s? Wow.

Two weeks ago I spent some time in China, conducting interviews for a bunch of features I'll be working on for the Airshow China preshow report.

One of my stops in the country was in Tianjin - to check out Airbus's first A320 final assembly line outside of Europe. My trip coincided with a planned ceremony for the completion of the 100th A320 assembled in China. The aircraft went to flag carrier Air China.

A large pool of local media attended the event together with a small group of us foreign journalists. It seems Airbus has strong political support for its project in China since China premier Wen Jiabao and Germany chancellor Angela Merkel were both present. This is actually the premier's third visit to Airbus' Tianjin facility - the first when the assembly centre was officially opened, and the second when it delivered its first assembled aircraft. 

At the ceremony it was also announced that Airbus will be extending the life of its Tianjin line to beyond its 2016 agreement. A day before, ICBC Leasing also gave the airframer its first A320neo deal in the country with its order for 20neos and 30 of the current type.

After the ceremony, besides being able to steal some shots of the two political figures, I also had the chance to do a quick interview with Airbus China president Laurence Barron.

We were also given a quick tour of the final assembly line by the outfit's general manager Jean-Luc Charles. I've never been to Airbus' Hamburg facility, but was told that the Tianjin one looks just like it. 

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. Enjoy!