Dongfang Df.29

The Dongfang Df.29J was an Kodeshi Great Kesh War single-seat heavy built by the Dongfang Aerospace Industries. It is a twin-engine, fixed wing aircraft powered by two air-cooled radial piston engines. It is a single-seat twin-engine long range fighter armed with four 20mm anti-aircraft cannons and mounted on each side of the fuselage. It was the first twin-engine fighter to be deployed by the Kodeshi Naval Air Arm and is regarded as one of the finest Kodeshi naval piston engined aircraft of the Great Kesh War, originally conceived as an long range carrier based fighter, the Df.29's use evolved during the war into many roles, including day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, ground attack, pathfinder, intruder, maritime strike, and photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Despite the advent of jet fighters, the Df.29J remained in service as a night fighter and attack aircraft until the early 1970s.

Development and design
In 1943, at the request of the Naval Air Arm, Dongfang Aerospace Industries conducted a comprehensive design study of long range carrier based fighters. The purpose of the study was to determine the airplane performance, size and optimum arrangement with various available power plants, including turbojet, turboprop and reciprocating engines. The effect of reducing the radius requirement from the selected radius of 1,200 nautical miles was also determined as well as the effect of variation in cruising altitude. The major conclusion was that carrier based fighters with long range and heavy armament would be useful in the Tethys ocean and any future conflict with Tiperyn or Selengeria.

Testing by Dongfang test pilots indicated impressive flying qualities. Pilots were pleased with the counter-rotating props which virtually eliminated the torque effect on take-off greatly aiding carrier operations.

The Naval Air Arm contracted with production of the fighter, and it was first flight in November 1944. At the time of first flight, the navalized version was designated NF.1, the land-based version was designated NF.2 and the international version was designated NF.3. The NF.1 and NF.2 shared 75% commonality of components, and the naval and international versions were identical with the exception of armament, engine and radio equipment. In January 1945, the Kodeshi Air Force received the first production standard fighter, and began their training programs. The standard fighter can be identified by its one piece arrestor wire, different radio antennas, and a catapult attachment point on top of the fuselage behind the rear turret.

The first navalized standard fighters were delivered in February, and began their training programs in March. A total of 1,300 standard fighters were ordered by the KAF and delivered between March and October 1945. While the Airframes 1-1500 all had a maximum speed of 557 MPH at altitude, the production versions from Airframes 1501-1600 had a significant increase in horsepower and a decrease in weight to 550 MPH. The naval version was designated the NF.5 and had a 593 MPH maximum speed at altitude, the land based version was designated the NF.6 and had a 571 MPH maximum speed at altitude, and the international version was designated the NF.7 and had a 571 MPH maximum speed at altitude. The standard fighter was the primary fighter of the KAF from its introduction in 1945 through the beginning of the Great Kesh War which raged from 1949 until 1959. It saw extensive action during the final conflict with Tiperyn and Selengeria.

The standard fighter was ordered into production in 1944, with the first deliveries to the KAF in February 1945. 3,522 standard fighters were produced by the time production ended in October of that year. A total of 2,040 of these were the international version with different radio equipment, with 1,778 being the naval version with a catapult hook and 628 being the land based version with a hook and arrestor wire. A total of 1,424 standard fighters were lost in action, 552 were shot down by anti-aircraft fire and another 200 were lost in accidents. The second production standard fighter, the upgraded model, first flew in early 1945 and entered service with the KAF during the first half of that year. The upgraded version is easily identified by its one piece arrestor wire, slightly longer wings, uprated bras, a two seat canopy, and a small tail hook. The upgraded aircraft has replaced most of the Rheinmetall 20mm with the British Hispano lens at the same time the nose was uprated to hold a 20mm cannon. The upgraded model was the main KAF fighter during the final conflict with Tiperyn and Selengeria.

The upgraded model continued to be delivered well into the early 50's. A total of 1,093 of the upgraded model were lost in action, 585 by enemy action and 472 by accidents. The second version is easily identified by the "smiley face" radar dish mounted on the fuselage just ahead of the wing leading edge. The first 10 of these aircraft were the prototype, with the remainder being built. Since the factory was already at maximum production capacity, no more of this version were ever ordered. The fifth version is the only production version, and is easily identified by its single vertical stabilizer. At the time of the 1960 armistice, this model was in service with the KAF in both the day and night fighter versions. The sixth version is the navalized version designed to operate from carriers.

This version was designated the Yahel Mk.3. The prototype first flew in early 1952, with initial production followed by the occasional carrier based fighter being built at the time of the armistice. A small number of these were also built in the international version with different radio equipment. Following its introduction, the Yahel Mk.3 replaced most of the carrier based fighters, including the original K-4 model. For a brief time some K-4's were also converted into this version. A total of 1,000 of all versions were lost in action, with 771 by enemy action and 267 by accidents. The seventh version is the only reconnaissance model. It was adopted in 1954 and designated the Yahel Reconnaissance Model. No more than a handful were built. The final version is the first of two experimental models adopted in secret in 1955. It is easily identified by its chin guns and tall tail. While the day fighter version had its guns remotely mounted under the wing during the war with Tiperyn and replaced, they were originally to be mounted in the chin guns on this version.

Since the war, a development project was begun to mount a small 20mm cannon in the tail. The first prototype first flew in 1955, with the experimental status of this model confirmed by the Air Force. The Air Force decided to adopt the experimental designation of Yahel-E. The prototype, with all its guns mounted, was destroyed in a ground accident. A second prototype was completed with the guns in the chin replaced by a single 20mm Grylev-12 cannon. Both experimental models are easily identified by their chin guns and tall tail mounted vertical stabilizer. The third version was the version adopted by the KAF as its standard fighter and designated the FD.29. It differed from the experimental models in that it mounts its engine in the nose, has armament consisting of a single chin mounted cannon, and a new set of electro-magnetic bombs. The F-4 is easily recognized by this chin mounted cannon, although older models with the cannon under the wing may also be confused due to similar placement. The final version is the "modernized" version and was adopted in 1962. It has an all-weather capable paint scheme and is outfitted with new ECM gear, designed to evade the latest guided missile threats. The final version, the "modernized" version first flown in 1962. This is the most numerous of all the Yahel fighters and is easily identified by its chin mounted cannon and tall tail.

Operational history
The Dongfang Df.29J operated in many roles, performing long range carrier based fighter, reconnaissance, tactical strike, anti-submarine warfare and shipping attacks and night fighter duties, until the end of the war and beyond. In February 1946, the first production models arrived for the trials with the Kodeshi Naval Air Arm, they began their training programs in March. First conducting practice naval carrier operations from the land bases in Chenghai. By April they Naval Air Arm had successfully tested the design it was first trialled on the Aircraft Carrier X and approved for operations that same month. By the middle of 1946 a full naval carrier squadron was equipped with the new aircraft. This consisted of Df.29A0 models the carrier-based fighter replacing the older Df.26 single engine fighter designs. A total of 52 of the A models were delivered to the navy equipping two naval squadrons and an additional 10 kept as reserve units for training on at the land based naval training and operations centre. By the November further changes were made to the next batch of fighters incorporating changes suggested by the Navy and streamlining and improving the production line leading the Df.29A1 model to fulfil the Navy’s fighter requirements. Changes included self-sealing fuel tanks and slight aerodynamic changes. Based on the success of the fighters the naval training and operations centre working with the naval procurement program led to the type being adapted to the Photo-reconnaissance role with the Df.29C1. A twin seat version was developed for the trainer role to help crews adapt to the new twin engine and tricycle landing gear configuration. This variant proved so successful it was adapted into the night fighter role with the Df.29Y1 fitting a Haigao Hg.3 radar system. Later improved with the Df.29Y2. The twin seat variant also saw the development of an attack modification which proved very successful in the attack and torpedo bombing roles. A dive bomber variant was proposed but ultimately with the pace of weapons development throughout the Great Kesh War the role of dive bomber fell from use as guided weapons improved. The single seat model also saw improvements into a fight-bomber role with modifications for high altitude operations. Additionally, by the time of the start Great Kesh War in 1949 the Df.29 was in full operational deployment on all the major aircraft carriers of the Kodeshi Navy. The newer jet aircraft developments were not yet fully operational and there were major concerns over the operating early jet aircraft on small carrier decks. But such was the success of the Df.29 prior to the outbreak of the war that the Kodeshi Air Force began to take and interest in the model. Their own Yu’an Y.15 fighter being an outstanding single engine type, but it lacked the range of the larger Df.29 and some consideration was being made towards the idea of long range fighter escorts for the proposed heavy strategic bomber aircraft then under development. Testing was undertaken by the air force and they type very much met the requirements and after several mandated changes were implemented the type entered service in 1948 as the Df.29J-4A with some refinements being made to the later B models. Once the Great Kesh War broke out production was rapidly increased with over 700 of these types being built. Many of which were later converted into the Df.29Q4-B and C variants with the addition of 130 more new build of this type as the arrival of the newer jet aircraft shifted the focus from piston engine fighters to high speed jets. But the piston engine types proved excellent ground attack designs. Further reconnaissance versions and trainers were built along with some improvements and addition of turbo-superchargers to improve performance. Throughout the war a few experimental versions were developed and deployed as well. Most notably the so called ‘Father and son’ composite drone craft with an unmanned explosive carrying Df.29 launched from a piloted Yu’an Y.15J-6E. These proved quite effective in the later stages of the war although the take off stage was often difficult and the type was very vulnerable at this stage from attack and required combat air patrol to secure the take off stage of the mission and escort to the target. The final production model was the land based Df.29J-5D which featured structural improvements and increased wing fatigue life. Over 700 of these were build in the late 1950s and although by this stage they had all but been retired from the Navy and most operations in the Air Force and it seemed like they would be scrapped in 1964 once the Guoist regime fell. But the type would find renewed life as a cheap and effective anti-insurgency aircraft against the Guoist rebels and insurgency in the northwest of Kodeshia. They type would serve into the mid-1970s with the Kodeshia Air Force before slowly being withdrawn and from service and the remaining models would be refurbished and sold on to international clients. A small number would be preserved for museums and as flying examples.

Variants

 * Df.29X-0 - The first prototype of the Df.29, built with mixed steel tube and wood construction. 3 built.
 * Df.29A0 - First in serial production twin-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft, powered by two radial piston engines. 52 built.
 * Df.29A1 - After the delivery of the first series of production models, a further change was worked into the production lines to improve and streamline the process.
 * Df.29C1 - Photo-reconnaissance version, 12 built.
 * Df.29K1 - Twin seat carrier-based trainer version.
 * Df.29Y1 - Single-seat night fighter aircraft, fitted with an Haigao Hg.3 radar.
 * Df.29Y2 - Two-seat night fighter, 65 built.
 * Df.29B2 - Two-seat carrier-based attack variant. 78 built.
 * Df.29A3 - Single-seat fighter-bomber aircraft, featuring an enlarged tailfin for improved stability at high altitudes, 192 built.
 * Df.29M3 - Small numbers of Df.29A-3s converted into drone control aircraft.
 * Df.29B3 - Improved two-seat Carrier-based attack variant. 54 built.
 * Df.29C3 - Improved two-seat Fighter-reconnaissance variant. 15 built.
 * Df.29D3 - Proposed carrier-based dive bomber. two built.
 * Df.29S3 - Small numbers of Df.29A-3 were converted into electronic warfare aircraft.
 * Df.29J-4A/B - Land based Fighter version, 720 built.
 * Df.29Q-4B/C - Land based Ground attack version with many older Df.29J-4A and Df.29J-4Bs converted to this variant and a further 130 new built.
 * Df.29R-4D/E - Land based Reconnaissance version. 48 built.
 * Df.29K-4F - Twin seat land based trainer version. 60 built.
 * Df.29A5 - Stronger fuselage, improved landing gear, new canopy design. 132 built.
 * Df.29J-5A - Equipped with the new turbo-supercharged Koudezhou K-18C-11 engines, including an inter-cooler, with 1,600 kW (2,100 hp).
 * Df.29Q-5B - Land based Ground attack version with many older Df.29J-4A and Df.29J-4Bs converted to this variant and a further 130 new built.
 * Df.29J-5C - Used as unmanned composite aircraft, comprised a small piloted Y.15J-6E control aircraft mounted above a large explosives-carrying Df.29 drone. Known as the 父子 ("Father and son").
 * Df.29J-5D The final production model, powered by a Koudezhou K-18C-14 engine, with structural improvements to increase wing fatigue life; 713 built.

Operators

 * Kodeshia
 * Kodeshi Air Force (1946-1975)
 * Kodeshia
 * Kodeshi Naval Air Arm (1946-1964)
 * Alvakalia
 * Alvak Luftwaffe (captured) (1950-1957)