Nanchang CJ-6

It's not unusual to see one of these overhead during good weather in Marin Co
CA...with the distinctive sound of their radial engine, they're hard not to
notice!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanchang_CJ-6

The Nanchang CJ-6 is an aircraft designed and built in China for use by the
People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a basic trainer.

The CJ-6 is an all-original Chinese design that is commonly mistaken for a Yak
18A. Its predecessor, the Nanchang CJ-5, was a licence-built version of the
Yak-18.
However, advancements in pilot training brought a need for a new aircraft with
improved performance and a tricycle landing gear. When the Soviet Union
developed the Yak-18A, PLAAF engineers decided that its performance and design
would not suit China's needs. A few important Chinese aircraft designers were
involved in design task of CJ-6, Lin Jiahua (Nanchang 320 Aircraft Factory
designer, previously involved in CJ5's design project), Xu Xunshou (key member
of J-7/J-8 fighter jet design team in the 1970s) and Zhiqian Huang (Chief
designer of J-8 fighter jet).

During late 1957 Aeronautical Engineers Cheng Bushi and Lin Jiahua began work in
Shenyang on a trainer design that addressed the shortcomings of the Yak-18A. The
design they delivered featured an aluminum semi-monocoque fuselage,
flush-riveted throughout, and introduced a modified Clark airfoil wing design
with pronounced dihedral in the outer sections. The dihedral and an angular
vertical tail distinguish it externally from the otherwise rather similar
Yak-18A. Wind tunnel testing validated the design, and in May 1958 the program
was transferred to the Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing factory where Chief
Engineer Goa Zhenning initiated production of the CJ-6. The first flight of the
CJ-6 was completed on August 27, 1958 by Lu Maofan and He Yinxi.

Power for the prototype was provided by a Czech-built horizontally-opposed
piston engine, but flight testing revealed the need for more power, so a locally
manufactured version of the Soviet AI-14P 260 hp radial, the Housai HS-6, was
substituted along with a matching propeller, and with that change the CJ-6 was
approved for mass production. In 1965 the HS-6 engine was upgraded to 285 hp and
redesignated the HS-6A, and the aircraft equipped with the new powerplant were
designated the CJ-6A.

A total production run estimated at more than 3,000 aircraft supplied CJ-6
aircraft for PLAAF training, as well as for export (as the PT-6) to countries
including Albania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, North Korea, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.

It is expected Hongdu/Yakovlov joint developed CJ-7 Trainer (L-7) primary
trainer will replace CJ-6s in PLAAF.


Role
Basic Trainer

Manufacturer
China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation

First flight
August 27, 1958

Introduction
1960

Due to its low price and sturdy construction, the CJ-6A is a popular hobby
plane. A used CJ-6 in the United States can cost as little as $75,000. The
aircraft appears on the civil register of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, UK,
South Africa and other countries.

In Australia CJ6 Aircraft are generally operated in the Limited Category. This
is administered by the Australian Warbirds Association Limited ( AWAL). The AWAL
operates under an approval from the Australian Government's Civil Aviation
Safety Authority (CASA) to manage the operation of ex Military aircraft.

Specifications (CJ-6A)

General characteristics
Crew: Two (student & instructor)
Length: 8.46 m (27 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 10.22 m (33 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 8 in)
Empty weight: 1,095 kg (2,414 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Zhouzhou (SMPMC) HS6A (different variants uses different types)
radial engine, 213 kW (285 hp)

Performance
Never exceed speed: 370 km/h (200 kts, 230 mph)
Maximum speed: 300 km/h (160 kts, 185 mph) diving speed /h (200 kt)
Range: 700 km (372 nmi, 425 mi)
Service ceiling: 6,250+ m (20,500+ ft)

Armament

2 x 7.62mm machine guns
Weapons stations and hardpoints under the wings
Bombs
Rocket launchers

Status
Operational

Primary user
Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force

Number built
2,000+

One thing to note is that the Nanchang CJ-6 makes extensive use of pneumatics to
control the gear and flap extension/retraction, operate the brakes and start the
engine. An engine-driven air pump recharges the system; however if air pressure
is too low to start the engine then the onboard air tank can be recharged by an
external source. If an external source is not available then the engine can be
started by hand swinging the propeller.



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