Trumpeter 01658 - Chinese FC-1 - 1/72 Scale

The Chengdu FC-1 (another designation: PAC JF-17 Thunder) is a modern Chinese-Pakistani multi-role light fighter. The flight of the prototype took place in 2003, and the serial production started in 2007 and is still going on. So far, about 70 aircraft of this type have been built. In the JF-17 Block 2 version, the drive is provided by a single Klimow RD-93 engine with a thrust (without afterburning) of 49.4 kN. The length of the aircraft is 14.93 meters with a wingspan of 9.48 meters. Top speed does not exceed 1.6 Ma. The deck armament consists of a single 23 mm cannon. The machine can also carry weapons on external pylons with a total weight of up to approx. 4,300 kilograms.

The FC-1 / JF-17 aircraft was created as a joint Sino-Pakistani venture, with the Chinese side wanting to acquire an aircraft that could be offered on foreign markets, and Pakistan - an aircraft for its own use, capable of replacing the Mirage III, Mirage 5 machine line. or the Chengdu F-7. Both partners wanted to create a machine that is relatively cheap, easy to produce and operate, but with possibly considerable modernization potential. Finally, a machine was created conceptually similar to the American F-16 Fighting Falcon and also using the fly-by-wire system. Currently, these types of aircraft are in Pakistan's equipment and are exported to Myanmar (Burma). They are also offered, among others, to Egypt, Iran and Sri Lanka.