Hongdu JL-8
| Hongdu JL-8 / K-8 Karakoram | |
|---|---|
 K-8 of a Pakistani aerobatic team
|
|
| Type: | Training aircraft and light ground attack aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: |
|
| First flight: |
November 21, 1990 |
| Commissioning: |
September 21, 1994 |
| Production time: |
In series production since 1990 |
| Number of pieces: |
310 (430 ordered) (as of July 2010) |
The Hongdu JL-8 , also known as the K-8 Karakoram , is a training aircraft and light attack aircraft produced by the Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation. It was created in collaboration with the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.
development
The K-8 was created in the late 1980s as a joint project between China and Pakistan . The first prototype was completed in 1989 and took off for the first flight on November 21, 1990. The original plan was to manufacture the K-8 in parallel in both states. This plan was quickly abandoned for financial reasons and production was completely relocated to China.
construction
When designing the K-8, particular emphasis was placed on reliability and easy maintenance. Their robustness and the low purchase price make them attractive for countries in the third world.
User states
-
Egypt : 120 (license production) -
Bolivia : 6 (they were bought including spare parts for 60 million US dollars, arrived disassembled on June 29, 2011 in Bolivia and will be assembled there by Chinese technicians) -
People's Republic of China : 170 -
Ghana : 4 -
Myanmar : 12 -
Namibia : 4 -
Pakistan : 40 -
Zambia : 15 -
Zimbabwe : 12 -
Sri Lanka : 6 -
Sudan : 12 -
Tanzania : 6 -
Venezuela : 24
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Hongdu K-8 Karakoram dates |
|---|---|
| crew | Pilot and student pilot or pilot and weapons system operator |
| length | 11.6 m |
| span | 9.63 m |
| Wing area | 17.02 m² |
| height | 4.21 m |
| Preparation mass | 2687 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 4330 kg |
| Top speed | 800 km / h (at sea level) |
| Max. Flight duration | 3.0 h |
| Service ceiling | 13,000 m |
| Initial rate of climb | 27 m / s |
| Range | 2250 km (with two 250 l drop tanks ), 1487 km (with internal fuel) |
| Engine | a Honeywell TFE731 -2A-2A turbofan engine with 16.0 kN static thrust |
| Max. Gun load | 943 kg |
Armament
- A 23mm cannon case under the fuselage
- Four underwing stations for bombs, rocket containers and guided weapons with max. 943 kg
See also
literature
- Claudio Müller: Airplanes of the World , Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, 2010, ISBN 978-3-613-03174-6
