The 飛機 製造廠 Fēijī zhìzào chǎng “aircraft manufacturing plant” (often translated as Air Force Aircraft Manufacturing Factory or AFAMF.
Designations
Chinese planes of this era were both designated with a Chinese name, as well as an Western name, imitating the sytle used by the USAAF (XP-2, XB-3). Interestingly planes from this era also bore an American style name (XB-3, XP-1). It is unclear why this happened, but aircraft development at the time was heavily influenced by the US, with american pilots, mechanics and personnel operating in the Chinese air force, the Flying Tigers. Many designers at the time had also studied in the US.
There are also gaps in the designations; The XB-1 and 2, and the existance of the XP-0 may imply the XB-0 and XT-0, however no information is known about the existance of these planes, and if they even existed at all.
XP-0 / 研驅一式
| XP-0 研驅一式 / | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Crew | ||
| Wingspan | Cruising Speed | ||
| Height | Maximum Speed | ||
| Empty Weight | Range | ||
| Gross Weight | Ceiling | ||
| Powerplant | Number build | ||
| Fuel capacity | |||
| Armament | |||
XP-1 / 研驅一式
Work on the XP-0 started early 1942. At the time, the majority of Chinese aircraft were American and Russian supplied. To reduce reliance of foreign aid the 1st AFAMF set up a team under Chief Engineer Constantine Zakhartchenko, a Russian-American immigrant, who worked there since 1935.
//TODO fighter, stukje schrijven
| Experimental Type 1 Drive / XP-1 研驅一式 / Yán qū yīshì | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Crew | 1 | |
| Wingspan | Cruising Speed | ||
| Height | Maximum Speed | 580 km/h (requirement) | |
| Empty Weight | Range | ||
| Gross Weight | Ceiling | ||
| Powerplant | 710 hp Wright SGR 1820 Cyclone | Number build | 2 prototypes |
| Fuel capacity | |||
| Armament | unknown | ||
XP-2 / 研驅二式
The team working on the XP-1 did design a new variant of the XP-1, however details of this aircraft and how it differed from the XP-1 are unknown. Some sources suggest the engine was changed to a 825 hp Wasp engine, while others suggest major modifications to the airframe.
Zhongyun
//TODO 2 transport vliegtuigen, stukje schrijven
CJC-1 Hummingbird
//TODO small helicopter
CJC-3
//TODO 1950’s Tandem rotor helicopter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_CJC-3
Sources
- Andersson, L. (2008). A history of chinese aviation: Encyclopedia of aircraft and aviation in China until 1949. AHS of ROC.
- Guo, L. (2020, July 6). 1st AFAMF Hummingbird – China’s first helicopter. Sino Records. https://sinorecords.org/1st-afamf-hummingbird/
- Guo, L. (2021, December 4). 1st AFAMF XP-1 – China’s wartime swept Wing Fighter. Sino Records. https://sinorecords.org/xp-1/
- Xiaoci, H. 中國飛機外篇（之九）海軍製造飛機處. 中國飛機尋根. (n.d.). http://cwlam2000.epizy.com/cafx16.htm?i=1