Zhuhai Air Show 2016

Every two years China organises what has come to be among the largest airshows in the world at a place called Zhuhai about 250 miles from Hong Kong. The airshow showcases the latest Chinese aviation and also defense products.

The Zhuhai Airshow 2016 (Nov 1st - 6th) ends today.   

First here is a YouTube of this year's airshow:

If the video does not appear, here is the link :   https://youtu.be/AmtNIDHTWXI

At this year's airshow the Chinese organised a "fly-by only" of a pair of their latest J20 Stealth fighters (the planes did not land).  Here is a picture :

The J20 is a fully capable stealth aircraft. The delta wing design with canards is homegrown. The amazing thing is the Chinese first flew a prototype just five years ago in 2011. It has now entered production and will join the PLA airforce by 2018.

Next up is the world's largest operational military transport aircraft - the Chinese designed Y20.

The development of this giant airplane was even more amazing. First flight was three years ago in 2013. It is now in full production. The PLA airforce needs about 1000 of these heavy lifters. Among the reasons the Chinese can design, develop and put these planes out so fast is because of advanced design methods.

"The Y-20 is the first cargo aircraft to use 3D printing technology to speed up its development and to lower its manufacturing cost.  Model-based definition (MBD) is also used.."

Finally here is the Chinese made C919 medium range passenger jet for commercial use :

This is a  170 seat  twin jet, designed to compete with the Boeing 737 Max and the Airbus A320. Design work started in 2010, first flight was in 2015 and the plane is now into commercial production. Ryan Air has signed up as co-developer and first foreign operator.  Planned production run is about 2,400 planes.

The world demand for medium range twin jets is expected to exceed 20,000 planes.

Chinese aviation is arriving.