Chinese Fifth Generational Stealth fighter J-20 Black Eagle Goes To The Ski

China confirmed the first test flight of its highly controversial stealth fighter, ending speculation that the secretive aircraft had taken to the air. Chinese President Hu Jintao told U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates about the flight of the prototype J-20 shortly before Gates left Beijing after a three-day visit to China intended to improve military communications between the two countries. Gates, who is also visiting Japan and South Korea while in the region, said the discussion with Hu about the J-20 flight that took place this week was short. "I asked President Hu about it directly and he said that the test had absolutely nothing to do with my visit and had been a pre-planned test. And that's where we left it."

China confirmed the first test flightof its highly controversial stealth fighter, ending speculation that the secretive aircraft had taken to the air. Chinese President Hu Jintao told U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates 

about the flight of the prototype J-20 shortly before Gates left Beijing after a three-day visit to China intended to improve military communications between the two countries. Gates, who is also visiting Japan and South Korea while in the region, said the discussion with Hu about the J-20 flight that took place this week was short. "I asked President Hu about it directly and he said that the test had absolutely nothing to do with my visit and had been a pre-planned test. And that's where we left it." 

The 15-minute flight took place in Chengdu, in southwest China. Hu, who is chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the flight hadn't been timed to coincide with Gates's visit. The 11-member commission issues directives to the army including senior appointments, troop deployment and arms spending. The majority of members are senior generals but several senior Communist party members are on the commission, a move said to ensure that the military remains loyal in its actions toward the government. Defense and aviation analysts have been questioning images and video clips of the stealth fighter seen on Chinese Web sites since last month, showing what looks like a J-20 standing on a runway apron and then taking off. Many of the shots of the Chengdu J-20 appear taken by people standing a long way from the runway, possibly outside the airport perimeter.