The main entrance to the museum.
Shenyang J-6 (licence-built MiG-19)
Ilyushin Il-14 - as used by Chairman Mao.
Mil Mi-6 'Hook'
Chengdu J-7 (derived from the MiG-21F)
British built Vickers Viscount.
Magnificent carved mural 'Blue Sky Soul' with the heads of pilots from three different eras.
'Bomber Alley' - with Tu-2, Harbin H-5's, Tu-4's and H-6.
'MiG Alley' - how's that for a collection of MiG-15, 17 & 19s ???
Nanchang Q-5B prototype with new radome.
Shenyang J-8
At the start of the crescent shaped 'cave' under Da Tang Shan mountain - not the best conditions for photography.
MiG-23 - donated by the Syrian Air Force (I think?).
Kawasaki Ki-48-II Type 99 bomber in Red Army of China Air Force markings.
F-86 Sabre - donated by the Pakistan Air Force.
Chengdu JJ-5 (FT-5) Trainer - in the colours of the 1st August display team.
This rather poor exhibit claims to be a de Havilland Mosquito - but only just!......
The same goes for this P-40 - a not-so-sucessful attempt at a restoration.
Curtis Hawk III fighter painted in the markings of Chinese pilot Gao Zhihang.
Looking back down the curving cavern with its line up of exhibits.
Polikarpov I-16 in Taiwanese markings.
China's first attempt at creating an indigenous fighter - the lightweight Nanchang J-12. This airframe is the second prototype.
Shenyang J-5 used as a radar testbed.
Soviet Tupolev Tu-2 bomber.
Replica of a Vought V-65-C1 Corsair of the KMT - captured by the Red Army in February 1930 and named 'Lenin'.
I spotted this model hanging from the ceiling near the entrance to the cavern.........
... I have no idea what it is - maybe a design for a Chinese Stealth Bomber?
Out into the cold sunlight again - this is another Nanchang J-12 - this time with an inlet centrebody.
Harbin H-5 - a licence-built Ilyushin Il-28. This example is a HD-5 ECM variant.
The iconic Tu-4 AWACS - a US B-29 bomber, reverse-engineered by the Soviets into the Tupolev Tu-4, converted by the Chinese
to take the AI-20K turboprop engines from an An-12 and fitted with a rotodome. No radar was ever fitted.
Another turboprop Tu-4 - this time used as a drone launcher fitted with two underwing WZ-5
reconnaissance drones - (reverse-engineered Ryan AQM-34N Firebee drones).
Xian Y-7 (licence-built Antonov An-24) - this one converted into a navigation trainer.
Xian H-6 (licence-built Tupolev Tu-16).
Douglas DC-8 formerly used by the Orbis 'Flying Eye Hospital'
Early prototype Harbin SH-5 ASW flying boat.
Another photo of the SH-5 - note that it isn't a true amphibian - but it has retractable beaching gear.
Lisunov Li-2.
Ilyushin Il-62.
One of two Curtis C-46 Commandos at the museum.
DHC Beaver
Harbin Z-5 (licence built Mil Mi-4) in ambulance colours.
Ministry of Ugly Planes - Chinese attempt to make a turbine-powered Mi-4, the Harbin Z-6
Another view of the Z-6 - powered by a single WZ5 turboshaft derived from the Soviet AI-24 turboprop.
British built de Havilland Trident airliner.
This strange machine is CJ-5 trainer that was modified to look vaguely like an F-84 for static ground shots
in a movie made in China years ago - thanks to 'Antonov' for the information.
Li-2 - with 4-bladed props.
China National Aviation Corporation DC-3
I think this is a 'proper' C-47.
A view of the transport aircraft collection.
Nanchang Q-5 'Fantan'
Tupolev Tu-124
Ilyushi Il-12.
Antonov An-12.
Another Q-5 Fantan.
The new exhibition pavillion.
Shenyang J-11 - Sukhoi Su-27SK.
Mockup of the two-seat Chengdu J-10 - home-grown fighter.
This one is real - the first prototype of the J-10 fighter.
Xian JH-7A 'Flying Leopard' fighter-bomber.
China's first indigenous jet trainer - Shenyang JJ-1 - only two flying prototypes were built.
The remains of a Lockheed D-21 supersonic reconnaissance drone.
Lavochkin La-11 that fought in the Korean War.
P-51 and Xian H-6
Looking down from the balcony onto the JH-7A and J-8 II.
The J-10 prototype.
Q-5 Fantan - you can clearly see the MiG-19 ancestry.
Fairchild PT-19 suspended from the ceiling.
WZ-5 drone - reverse-engineered Ryan AQM-34N Firebee.
Tachikawa Type 99 trainer.
The Xian H-6 (Tu-16) dominates the main hall.
Another WZ-5 - this time attached to the underwing pylon of the Tu-4.
Superbly restored Qing-6 (turboprop Beriev Be-6 'Madge') flying boat in an appropriate setting.
Looking up the wall to No 8 Beacon Tower.
The steep, daunting climb- but I made it!!
At the tower...
Proof positive that I made it - though that warning about heart disease is worrying at my age!
Looking back across the valley before descending.
At the bottom again.....
Yours truly - clutching the 'I climbed the Great Wall' tee shirt.