December 26 is a special date for China, as it is the birthday of Mao Zedong (Mao Tse Tung, or “Chairman Mao”), who is still revered as the founder of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and de facto leader of China. Chinese Communist Party of 1935.
It is perhaps no coincidence that this day was chosen for the first flights of what appear to be two new Chinese combat aircraft or combat air demonstrators, one from the AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Research and Design Institute (historically known as the 611 Institute), and the other from the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute (or 601 Institute).
Aerospace Global News will review the two aircraft separately.
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