China Aviation Museum, Datangshan; 14 Aug 08

Some years ago, the existence of a collection of preserved Chinese aircraft came to light. In the early 1990s, a museum was opened, close to an airbase in the Northern suburbs of Beijing. The central display area in the museum was a tunnel inside a hillside, dating from the 1960s, and previously used as a dispersed location for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The existance of such a collection came as a surprise to many in the West, and when the museum was opened to the public in 1992, it became clear that the Chinese had a collection of historical aircraft to rival any other national collection in the world.

Today, the museum is acknowledged as a major collection, and is fairly well known in the West, though not widely visited by tourists. English is not widely spoken in China, even Beijing, and the location is fairly tricky to get to.

The museum is located between Changping and Xiantangshan, and the access road from the main road is actually part of a very long taxiway from the museum location to the nearby airfield. On arrival, visitors are greeted by the sight of a rare Nanchang J-12, spectacularly displayed alongside a collection of surface to air missiles. The J-12 was a failed attempt to build a modernised version of the MiG-21 (Shenyang J-7), and only 12 were built.

The entrance to the tunnel is guarded by a collection of 14 MiG-19 (Shenyang J-6) derivatives, starting with a basic J-6 airframe, effectively a license built version of the MiG-19S. Next to this J-6 is a rare aircraft known as the Dong Feng (East wind) 102. This was an early attempt to improve the performance of the original MiG-19 design, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

The line-up continues with three radar and missile equipped J-6B fighters, the first all-weather version produced in China. In fact, this version was delivered before the original J-6 tactical fighter, once production began in China.

Further developments of the MiG-19 on display include a camoflaged J-6II, a pair of similar J-6III, which was produced in limited numbers, and a J-6IV. The J-6II and III were further attempts to produce a higher performance version of the MiG-19, and featured a shock-cone in the centre of the intake - although this resembles a radome, no radar was fitted. The J-6II was not produced beyond the prototype stage, and the J-6III only in limited numbers.

The last aircraft in the line were a rare 2-seat JJ-6 and a recon configured JZ-6.

Facing this line-up of J-6s were three of the ultimate Chinese version of the MiG-19, the Nanchang Q-5 Fantan, a ground attack aircraft. This aircraft retains the wings and elements of the fuselage of the MiG-19, but has a redesigned nose, which was to be equipped with a radar, although the early versions lacked this.

The location of the radar meant that the engine intakes were moved to the side of the fuselage. Further redesign was performed to fit an internal weapons bay. There are two Q-5s on display, with the third aircraft being a Q-5A. The aircraft were built in the 1980s, and remain an important type in PLAAF service today, despite the entry into service of advanced types such as the Su-30 and J-10.

From there, it was into the tunnel itself. I had been warned that it was fairly dark within, but once inside, it became clear quite how little light there was in there - not all of the lights were switched on, although I'm not convinced much difference would have been made if they had all been on! However, within the tunnel lie some real aviation treaures, from WWII and earlier.

First up however, was something slightly more up to date, and slightly incongruous - a recently delivered F-104S Starfighter! The aircraft was a gift from the Italian Air Force, and flown to China inside a C-130 transport. The aircraft is displayed surrounded by models and other memorabilia relating to Chinese aviation throughout the years, and nearby is a cutaway MiG-17(J-5).

After further displays of models and some engines, it was on to the really unusual stuff, with a definite Russian flavour to the early collection of aircraft.

There was a good collection of Korean war types, including a pair of Tu-2 'Bat' light bombers - one carried Chinese markings, the other North Korean.

The most famous of the Communist types flown during the Korean War is the MiG-15, which was the equivalent of the American F-86 Sabre. There are a large number of North Korean marked MiG-15s in the museum collection - although the markings are North Korean, these aircraft were flown by Chinese pilots, and many of them carry considerable numbers of victory markings, with solid red stars representing a kill, and outlines representing an aircraft damaged in air combat.

I found these Korean war veteran aircraft fascinating - we are used to seeing Sabres carrying markings from that period, so it made an interesting contrast to see things from the other side.

Finishing up the collection of aircraft in the tunnel were some more modern Chinese built aircraft, including three Harbin H-5 (Il-28) 'Beagles'.

Moving outside, there are 4 aircraft which illustrate the variety of countires which supplied the Chinese in the 1950s and 1960s. First up was a Russian built Ilyushin Il-12 light transport. Alongside were a British Vickers Viscount and a pair of American types, a Douglas DC-3 and a Convair 240. Finishing this lineup was another Russian type, the Tupolev Tu-124.

Moving around the corner, away from the tunnel exit, we were greeted by the amazing site of a line-up of 20 silver MiG fighters! The majority were identical MiG-17/J-5 'Fresco' fighters, with a few other interesting types thrown in too.

Of particular interest were some of the trainers in the line-up. Four of these were MiG-15UTI, but there were single examples of the JJ-5 (2-seat J-5) and JJ-6 (2-seat J-6). Both of these aircraft were unique to China, and consequently fairly rare.

The final aircraft in the MiG line were a pair of MiG-15s carrying North Korean markings.

Although the lineup was predominately composed of fighter aircraft, there was also an Antonov An-24 on display, partly obscured by trees. This aircraft appears to have been modified with extra equipment being installed on the fuselage sides. Opposite the Antonov was a single Harbin Z-5 (Mil Mi-4) helicopter.

Displayed in the same area were 2 other interesting types. The first of these was yet another J-6 derivative, this time a J-6III equipped with wingtip missile rails (some sources refer to this aircraft as J-6III X). Nearby was an example of the awesome J-8II Finback, the ultimate development of the J-8 design, featuring a redesigned radar nose and intakes on the fuselage sides.

The rest of the aircraft in the museum were grouped according to their role. First up were the transports. Again, there were a mix of Western and Russian influences, including 2 HS Tridents, a collection of DC-3/C-47s, along with the Russian equivalent, the Lisunov Li-2, and several other Russian designs.

A small area has been set aside for some of the PLAAF's former VIP aircraft, several of which were used by Chairman Mao as his personal transports. For a small fee, it was possible to look inside his former Ilyushin Il-18, and view the "luxury" afforded to the former Chinese leader.

There were a large number of helicopters on display, mostly Mil Mi-8s and Harbin Z-5s. I did not take so many photos of these due to trees and long grass (with associated perils in this part of the world!).

In addition to the collection of fighter aircraft on display in the area around the tunnel, there was another lineup on the Northern edge of the museum site. Some of the aircraft here are in a fairly poor state, but most are duplicates of aircraft already on display, and this area is a storage area as much as a display area.

The area dedicated to bombers is fairly small, but contains 2 highlights of the collection, in the form of a pair of Xi'an H-6 (Tu-16) Badger bombers, along with a pair of Tu-2 Bats and a Harbin H-5 (Il-28) Beagle.

The final area is set aside for 'special' types, aircraft modified for unusual purposes. Dominating this area were a pair of mighty Tupolev Tu-2 'Bull' bombers. The first was equipped with a pair of drones, the second with an airborne early warning radar, with both aircraft being re-engined with turboprops. The area also contained a couple of other types, including, unusually, a DC-8 formerly used by the Orbis foundation as a flying eye hospital.

The China Aviation Museum at Datangshan is a truly exceptional museum. At every turn, there are fascinating and unique aircraft, and in some cases, the sheer numbers of aircraft on display is incredible. The only downside would be the poor condition of some of the aircraft, and the museum's habit of painting the aircraft in fictitious schemes! Still, this collection is magnificent, and essential visiting for anyone who happens to be in Beijing.

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