The Soviet Yakovlev Yak-17UTI was the People’s Republic of China’s first jet trainer aircraft. A total of forty-three examples were delivered and used until 1951.
Tag: history
Chi-Ha SPG — Chinese Mystery Tank
The Chi-Ha SPG was a Nationalist Chinese conversion undertaken during the Chinese Civil War. It saw the mating of an old Japanese Chi-Ha hull with an indigenous turret and a mountain gun. Little is known about this vehicle’s capabilities and it is unknown how many were built.
WZ-141 — Chinese Prototype Airborne Tank
The WZ-141 was a prototype light airborne tank project undertaken by China in the 1970’s. Two prototypes were made but the WZ-141 never saw active service.
Shangdeng No.1 — Helicopter, Bus, or Boat?
Shangdeng No.1 was an overambitious design undertaken by the Chinese Shanghai Bulb Factory in 1958 to produce a multipurpose vehicle which could serve as a helicopter, a bus and a boat for the National Day celebrations.
Renault ZB — French Export Tank for China
The Renault ZB was an experimental tank developed in the mid-1930’s. Although rejected for service with the French, sixteen units would later be constructed and exported to China where it was used against the Japanese.
Aisin-Gioro Puyi’s Twelve Reasons for Imperial Restoration
The “twelve reasons” was a list written by Aisin-Gioro Puyi to plead his case to the Japanese of why he should be restored as emperor in the newly established Japanese puppet state of Manchoukuo.
1st AFAMF Hummingbird — China’s First Helicopter
The 1st AFAMF Hummingbird was designed by Major General Zhu Jiaren and was China’s first helicopter. No serial production commenced, but two prototypes were produced and both were lost shortly after.