J-6 (Jian-6 Fighter aircraft 6) / F-6
The F-6 (Jianjiji-6 Fighter aircraft 6) is the Chinese version of the MiG-19, which as of the mid-1990s was still in production in China. The J-6, which began flight tests in 1958, was China's first supersonic jet fighter. The F-6 has six attachment points for external stores (three on each wing). The outboard wing stations can carry a 250 kg bomb. The outboard wing stations can also carry a 760 or 400 liter drop tank or the CAA-1b AAM. The inboard wing stations can carry practice bombs or rocket pods with either 8 x 57mm, 16 x 57mm, or 7 x 90mm rockets.
China began the licence production of the J-6 shortly after the J-5, a copy of the MiG-15. Equipped with two WP6 turbojet engines, had a maximum speed of 1,452 km/h, a service ceiling of 17,500 m, and maximum range of 2,200 km. Like the J-5, the J-6's inlets were in the nose of the aircraft.
To break the speed of sound, a swept wing design was adopted. Also, the thickness of the wings was reduced to reduce drag. The WP6 engine's configuration had was modified as well, utilizing axial-flow in its air intake as a opposed to centrifugal-flow. This improved the propulsion efficiency of the engine at supersonic speeds. Though both the thrust and afterburner thrust of the WP6 engine was the same as the WP5, the WP6 was 30% lighter in weight and had a 48% smaller diameter. As a result, the design of the aircraft, especially in the nose, was more suitable for supersonic flight.
The Shenyang Aircraft Factory was responsible for the license production of the J-6. However, the Great Leap Forward negatively affected the production of the J-6. Overambitious production goals and lack of thorough testing resulted in the mass production of poor quality aircraft. A large quantity of finished aircraft could not be delivered for use because and additional three years had to be committed to the repair of flaws in the aircraft, including the Shenyang WP6 engines.
License production of the J-6 began again in 1961 with more emphasis on quality control. The previous J-6 suffered horizontal surface vibration due to the flawed design of a hydraulic booster valve that controlled the horizontal surface, and was solved with the addition of a hydraulic damper. The licence production of the WP6 engine carried out again by the Shenyang Engine Factory and was certified in October 1961. By 1964, the J-6 was re-certified for production.
Variants
Additional variations of the J-6 were made. To meet the the different demands of the military, the JZ-6, JJ-6, J-6III and J-6A were developed
The JZ-6 variant specializes in tactical reconnaissance over wide areas and was developed at the Shenyang Aircraft Factory in 1969. Two versions of the JZ-6 were developed and certified in December 1976. One aircraft was equipped with a high altitude camera pod, while the aircraft was equipped with a low-to-medium altitude camera pod.
The JJ-6 aircraft was a two-seat version of the J-6 and had dual uses for training and fighter missions. Development for the JJ-6 began in 1966 and was it was certified for use in December 1973.
The J-6III variant had improvements in its maximum at intermediate altitudes and a higher service ceiling. The Shenyang Aircraft Factory started its development in 1969 and made its first flight in August 1969. Despite the improved capabilities, the quality of the aircraft was negatively affected by the Great Cultural Revolution in 1968. Like its predecessor, the aircraft had to be returned for repairs.
The J-6A, which was developed in 1974 by the Guizhou Aircraft Factory, possessed all-weather capabilities. It was certified by the Chinese government in January 1977.
