The 红专-503 Hong Zhuan "Red Special" or 歼教-1  Jian Jiao "Fighter Trainer" also know as the Shenyang JJ-1

红专-503 歼教-1 (战斗机 教练员 航空器-1)

Model and photo by Zane R Nobbs 

The second kit of the International Resin Modellers Association is China’s first completely indigenous jet aircraft, the Shenyang JJ-1. Originally this jet was known as the 红专–503 Hong Zhuan "Red Special" because it was the premier jet plane perceived, designed and built in the People’s Republic of China. Later the name was changed to 歼教-1 Jian Jiao "Fighter Trainer" or 沈阳 歼教-1 Shenyang JJ-1 because this aircraft was created by the Shenyang Aero Institute 沈阳飞机制造厂 (JJ-1 was the abbreviation for 战斗机 教练员 航空器-1 or fighter trainer aircraft-1). We have been lucky enough to have one of the actual designers, Dr. Bushi Cheng to help us!

When a divergent perspective on communism/socialism evolved between the Chinese and Soviets in the early-1950s, the response of the Soviet Union was to break off relations with the People’s Republic of China. This involved withdrawing all technical advisors, including aviation personnel, stopping all shipments of aircraft to China, including spare parts, and taking back or destroying any technical drawings, manufacturing procedures or jet plans for Chinese aviation.

This left China with only outdated aircraft with which to train its jet fighter pilots. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), also known as the People's Republic of China Air Force (PROCAF), felt that after student pilots had mastered propeller aircraft, they still needed a transition to jet aircraft but, not directly to full jet fighters. Thus the PLAAF approached the engineers of the Shenyang Aero Institute, including Professor Bushi Cheng, for a jet trainer.

Shenyang JJ-1 Prototype 1 - People's Republic of China archival photograph

The Shenyang Aircraft Development Office discussed the need with the Air Force to make sure the concept was clear. Next they sat down and began to design the jet based on what they knew and on the resources available. Upon acceptance by the committee, the technical drawings went to the manufacturing deparment to build the first prototype. The result was a very efficient and completely Chinese jet.

The JJ-1 was a straight-wing, un-swept tail-plane, aircraft built to be very friendly to the student pilot. It was also one of the first trainer jets designed specifically for its purpose and not an adaptation of an existing fighter design. The student sat in the front with the instructor in the back seat. One unusual feature was that the student’s canopy opened with a side hinge while the instructor’s canopy slid back.

The engine was a SADO (Shenyang Aircraft Development Office) PF-1A, a Chinese version of the Soviet Klimov RD-500, which was itself a copy of the British Rolls-Royce Derwent V centrifuge turbojet. Armament consisted of a single 23 mm canon. Another aspect for the JJ-1, discovered upon completion, was its capability as a close-support, ground-attack platform. It could fly slow enough to support troops in a close combat situation, yet speed away when necessary.

SADO PF-1A centrifuge turbojet - People's Republic of China archival photograph

Three Shenyang JJ-1s were constructed with one being a static test airframe. For trials the finish was overall natural aluminum with only national markings. Later one of the aircraft would receive a numeral and become known as "101 red" during the demonstration flights.

 

Shenyang JJ-1 China Aviation Museum color scheme - by Zane R Nobbs

In one painting/illustration, a JJ-1 is depicted with tail stripes of red-white-red-white as used during the Chinese Revolution (known also as the Chinese Civil War) to commemorate the conflict, which soldiered on through the 1950s. These would be twelve in number based on the traditional Chinese day of 12 hours before the introduction of Western time. Initially this format was used by the Republic of China on almost all aircraft in blue-white-blue-white. The stripes were later used by the Chinese Communists, then the People’s Republic of China in the red-white format, to differentiate Communist from Nationalist aircraft. There were also variations on the Communist side of 7 and 9 stripes with one Jian-2/MiG-15 (DML, Kopro, Cyber-Hobby, MisterCraft 1/72) even sporting 15 on its rudder.

Shenyang JJ-1 variation color scheme - by Zane R Nobbs

One major influence on the JJ-1 was foreign aircraft. The PLAAF had taken note of the structure of top-performance jets from other nations. For this reason the air intakes were built on the sides of the JJ-1 in similar fashion to the Grumman F9F Panther (Revell, HASEGAWA, HOBBY BOSS, and Matchbox 1/72 ) of the U.S.A., the Hawker F.1 Sea Hawk (Airfix, EASTERN EXPRESS, speciaL hOBBY, NOVO, and Classic Airframes 1/72) of the U.K., the Sud Ouest SO-6020 Espadon (Dujin, Replica, and Mach2 1/72) of France, Fiat G.80 (Cunar Models 1/72)of Italy, Saab J-21R (Heller with BROPLAN and speciaL hOBBy 1/72) of Sweden and Avro CF-100 Canuck (Hobby Craft 1/72) of Canada. This allowed for a radar placement in the nose of the aircraft.

Although the nose radar was an advantage over the Jian J-2/MiG-15 and Jian J-5/MiG-17 from the Soviet Union, the Soviets too had made this discovery in the late 1940s with the Lavochkin La-200 (Unicraft and Amodel 1/72) series of jets. Also Germany and Japan had planned to introduce side-intakes on designs such as the Messerschmitt P.1110 (Planet Models 1/72) and Yokosuka R2Y2-II Keiun (IRMA 1/72), respectively, had the war continued.

Shenyang JJ-1 "Red 101" paint scheme - by Zane R Nobbs

The first flight was performed on 26 July 1956 (or 1958?) by Comrade Yu Zhenwu of the PLAAF who put the aircraft through its paces. The JJ-1 performed quite well, especially in the role it was designed for.

In the end the JJ-1 was never put into production because the PLAAF concluded that it would be possible for pilots to make an immediate transition from propeller airplanes to jet aircraft. Also, propeller aircraft were concluded to provide sufficient ground-support. Thus China’s second aircraft endeavor came to a quiet ending.

Shenyang JJ-1 surrounded by Shenyang design crew - People's Republic of China archival photograph

Never-the-less, the Hong Zhuan-503 or Shenyang JJ-1, gave China its first opportunity to prove to itself and others that a purely domestic Chinese jet aircraft was not only possible, but would become typical as the Chinese aviation industry gained experience and grew into one of the most prominent in the world.

-Zane R Nobbs, 2010 © Copyright IRMA

Dimensions:

Wing Span: 37 ft 6.00 in (11.43 m)

Length: 34 ft 7.25 in (10.56 m)

Height: 12 ft 11.01 in (3.94 m)

Weight: 10,145 lbs (4,602 kg) at takeoff

Performance data:

Top speed: 521.95 mph (840 kph) at 26,250 ft (8,000 m)

Range: 825 miles (1,328 km) without drop tanks

Thrust: 3,500 lbs (1,590 kgp)

Crew: 2, pilot and student pilot

Armament: 1x 23 mm canon

Engine: SADO PF-1A centrifuge turbojet

Model and photograph by Zane R Nobbs 

References for this article:

飞翔的思绪 - 出版了我的文集 (Flying Thoughts - About Chinese Aviation and Other Sciences) by 沈阳飞机制造厂 (Professor Bushi Cheng), 机械出版社 (China Machine Press), 2009.

Chinese Aircraft: China's Aviation Industry Since 1951, by Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov, Hikoki Publications, 2008.

Communist Chinese Air Power, by Richard M. Bueschel, Frederick A. Praeger, Publishing, 1968.

The Encyclopedia of the World's Combat Aircraft: A Technical Directory of Major Warplanes from World War 1 to the Present Day, by Bill Gunston, Chartwell Books, Inc., 1976.

Flying Colors: Military Aircraft Markings and Camouflage Schemes from World War 1 to the Present Day, by William Green and Gordon Swanborough, Squadron Signal Publications, Inc., 1981.

军用飞机型号与命名 (Military Aircraft Models and Their Naming), by 傅鏡平 (Jing-Ping Fu), 幼狮 (Young Lions), 2002.

Correspondence with 教授 程不时 Professor Bushi Cheng of 沈阳飞机制造厂 - 人中华民国 the Shenyang Aero Institute - People's Republic of China. Dr. Cheng is one of the original designers of the Shenyang JJ-1. IRMA is deeply honored and appreciative of his help for this project.

Dr. Cheng also has a blog, in Chinese (simplified), at: http://chengbushi.blog.china.com/ 

http://chengbushi.blog.china.com/index.html  复制  收藏本页

http://chengbushi.blog.china.com/200909/5221207.html 沈阳 歼教-1 (Shenyang JJ-1)

People's Republic of China archival photograph
Dr. Bushi Cheng, third from the right, with the Shenyang JJ-1.  

Photograph courtesy of Dr. Bushi Cheng
Dr. Bushi Cheng today, still flying! 

Illustration courtesy of Dr. Bushi Cheng
Dr. Bushi Cheng's book:Flying Thoughts—About Chinese Aviation and Other Science Articles.

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-Zane R Nobbs, copyright 2010, International Resin Modellers Association©SM®TM

Graphic images on this page copyright by IRMA 2010

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Artwork on this page by Zane R Nobbs                                  Box Art by Renaud Mangallon & Zane R Nobbs