Chengdu J-7
Chengdu · China · first flew 1966 · fighter
A Chinese-built copy and development of the Soviet MiG-21, a lightweight single-engine delta interceptor produced in huge numbers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Circular nose intake with a small pointed shock-cone centrebody |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tailed delta wing copied from the MiG-21
- Circular nose intake with a small pointed shock-cone centrebody
- Single swept fin with a conventional swept tailplane behind the delta
Identify it by the MiG-21-style tailed delta, the round nose intake with its small shock cone, and the single fin with a swept tailplane.
Specifications
- The Chengdu J-7 has a length of 14.9 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.2 m (24 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2175 km/h (1351 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1966, the J-7 began as a licensed and reverse-engineered MiG-21 and was progressively refined by Chinese industry over decades of production. It became a mainstay of the Chinese air arms and a popular, affordable export fighter known abroad as the F-7.
Variants
Many versions appeared, from early J-7 and J-7II models to the much-improved J-7E and J-7G with cropped double-delta wings and updated avionics; export F-7 variants served numerous air forces.
Where you'll see it
A Chinese type and its F-7 exports were never operated by Britain and are not seen in UK skies; British enthusiasts encounter the family only abroad or in museum collections.
Related aircraft
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