Maiden flight of twin-seat JF-17

The first twin-seat JF-17B fighter-trainer made its maiden flight at Chengdu on 27 April 2017, being unmarked except for the tail, which had a combined Chinese-Pakistani fin-flash. Yang Wei chief designer of the JF-17 said that the twin-seat variant “brings a new dimension to the JF-17 family and will increase the type’s competitiveness in the global market.” An AVIC spokesman said that the JF-17B has been developed with a global market in mind, development of the two-seater fighter being supported by firm orders for the type.

On its maiden flight, the JF-17 flew for some 26 minutes and will continue to be flight tested till certification and commencement