Chinese military and defense producers showed off lots of weapon systems at the biennial Zhuhai Airshow held in the southern province. But demonstration flights were among the most interesting parts of the event, partly because they really show what modern Chinese aircraft can do. After all, a specifications sheet may be influenced by wishful thinking and false advertising, but in the air you can either perform a Pugachev Cobra or you can’t.

The J-10 performing aerobatic maneuvers on the first day of the expo differed from the one shown on display. The more advanced J-10B version featured for the first time in public an engine with a nozzle capable of thrust vector control (TVC). And it was a Chinese engine, not Russian, showcasing Beijing’s acquisition of expertise in advanced weapon tech…….more here