Chengdu X-7 Jian Fan

X-7 Jian Fan

National origin: Peoples Republic of China
Manufacturer: Chengdu Sailplane Factory
First flight: October 1966
Number built: 130+

The Chengdu X-7 Jian Fan (Sword point) is a Chinese basic trainer glider. First flying in 1966, at least 130 were built.

Design and development

The Chengdu X-7 is a two seat basic training glider of glassfibre construction, which first flew in October 1966. It is a high-winged monoplane with the wing braced to the pod-and-boom fuselage by single struts. The crew of two sit in tandem open cockpits, while the undercarriage is is non-retracable monowheel, with nose and tail skids. 130 had been built by 1980.

Specifications (X-7)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 7.06 m (23 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 13.07 m (42 ft 11 in)
Height: 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 18.00 m (193.8 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 9.5:1
Airfoil: Gx¶ttingen 535 (modified)
Empty weight: 220 kg (485 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 370 kg (816 lb)

Performance

Maximum speed: 240 km/h; 130 kn (150 mph) (smooth air)
Stall speed: 45 km/h (28 mph; 24 kn)
Maximum glide ratio: 12:1
Rate of sink: 1.40 m/s (276 ft/min)

Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0 7106-0748-2.
Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5.

Chengdu X-7 Jian Fan Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia