Dongfang Df.29

The Dongfang Df.29J was an Kodeshi Great Kesh War heavy built by the Dongfang Aircraft Company (now Dongfang Aerospace Industries). It is a twin-engine, fixed wing aircraft powered by two air-cooled radial piston engines. It is a 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 night fighter, the Df.29's use evolved during the war into many roles, including anti-submarine, fighter-bomber, ground attack, airborne early warning control and relay platform, pathfinder, intruder, maritime strike, and photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Despite the advent of jet fighters, the Df.29J remained in service as a attack, anti-submarine and airborne early warning control and relay aircraft until the early 1960s.

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 night 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 YZ-1, and the first nasalized standard fighters were delivered in February, and began their training programs in March. A number were ordered by the Naval Fleet Air Arm and delivered between March and October 1945.

Operational history
The Dongfang Df.29 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 1944, 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 Qinglong H03 and approved for operations that same month. By the middle of 1945 a full naval carrier squadron was equipped with the new aircraft. This consisted of Df.29YM-1 models the carrier-based fighter replacing a squadron of older Df.26 single engine day fighter designs.

A total of 52 of the YM-1 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 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.29ZZ-2. 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 attack role with the Df.29Q-2. Later improved with the Df.29Q-3. 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 1955 the Df.29 was in full operational deployment on all the major aircraft carriers of the Kodeshi Navy. Serving alongside the newer jet aircraft developments. 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.29YZ-4J 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.29Q-4Q 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.29WJK-3 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 carrier based Df.2F-5 anti-submarine warfare combined Df.29FS/FQ version into a single airframe with Nangong N-3J/JL-1M2 retractable radome under the rear fuselage. This 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.

Prototype Models

 * Df.29YM-0
 * F = 原型; Yuánxíng ("Prototype"), M = 模型; Móxíng ("Model")
 * The first prototype of the Df.29, single seat with long-range heavy fighter with optional radio operator/navigate located in rear fuselage. 3 built.

Production Models

 * Df.29YZ-1
 * YZ = 夜間戰鬥機; Yèjiān zhàndòujī ("Night Fighter")
 * First in serial production twin-engine carrier-based night fighter aircraft, powered by two radial piston engines, two crew and addition of a Nangong N-1J/JL Type 1 Airborne surveillance radar. 52 built.


 * Df.29ZZ-2
 * ZZ = 照片侦察; Zhàopiàn zhēnchá ("Photo-reconnaissance")
 * Photo-reconnaissance version, 12 built.


 * Df.29JJ-2
 * J = 教練機; Jiàoliàn Jī ("Trainer")
 * Two-seat carrier-based trainer variant. 12 built.


 * Df.29Q-2
 * Q = 強; Qiáng ("Attack")
 * Two-seat carrier-based attack variant. 78 built.


 * Df.29JH-3
 * J = 歼击机; Jiānjíjī ("Fighter"), H = 轰炸机; Hōngzhàjī ("Bomber")
 * 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. Fighter-bomber variant. 192 built.


 * Df.29JWJK-3
 * WJK = 无人机控制; Wú rén jī kòngzhì ("Drone control")
 * Small numbers of Df.29A-3s converted into drone control aircraft.


 * Df.29YZ-3
 * YZ = 夜間戰鬥機; Yèjiān zhàndòujī ("Night Fighter")
 * Improved night fighter aircraft, addition of a Nangong N-1J/JL-1M1 Type 1 Mod 2 Airborne surveillance radar.


 * Df.29Q-3
 * Q = 強; Qiáng ("Attack")
 * Improved two-seat Carrier-based attack variant. 54 built.


 * Df.29PF-6
 * PF = 喷气发动机; Pēnqì fādòngjī ("Jet Engine")
 * Proposed carrier-based jet power night fighter variant. three built.
 * H = 轰炸机; Hōngzhàjī ("Bomber")
 * Proposed carrier-based dive bomber. two built.


 * Df.29DZ-3
 * DZ = 電子作戰; Diànzǐ zuòzhàn ("Electronic Warfare")
 * Small numbers of Df.29YZ-1 were converted into electronic warfare aircraft.


 * Df.29YZ-4
 * YZ = 夜間戰鬥機; Yèjiān zhàndòujī ("Night Fighter")
 * Improved night fighter aircraft, addition of a Nangong N-2J/JL Type 2 Airborne surveillance radar.


 * Df.29YZ-4J
 * YZ = 夜間戰鬥機; Yèjiān zhàndòujī ("Night Fighter"); J = 歼击机; Jiānjíjī ("Fighter")
 * Land based Air Force Night Fighter version, 220 built.


 * Df.29Q-4Q
 * Q = 強; Qiáng ("Attack")
 * Land based Ground attack version with many older Df.29Q-3 converted to this variant and a further 330 new built.


 * Df.29FS-4
 * F = 反潛; Fǎnqián ("Anti-submarine"); S = 搜索; Sōusuǒ; ("Search")
 * Carrier-borne unarmed anti-submarine warfare with variant with search radar in a ventral radome.


 * Df.29FQ-4
 * F = 反潛; Fǎnqián ("Anti-submarine"); Q = 強; Qiáng ("Attack")
 * Carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare attack variant. The Df.29FQ-4 would work with the unarmed search Df.29FS-4 and the FQ would be the attack variant to strike on targets located by the FS variant.


 * Df.29YZ-5
 * YZ = 夜間戰鬥機; Yèjiān zhàndòujī ("Night Fighter")
 * Improved night fighter aircraft, addition of a Nangong N-3J/JL Type 3 Airborne surveillance radar.


 * Df.29WJK-5
 * WJK = 无人机控制; Wú rén jī kòngzhì ("Drone control")
 * 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.29F-5
 * F = 反潛; Fǎnqián ("Anti-submarine")
 * Improved carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare combined Df.29FS/FQ version into a single airframe with Nangong N-3J/JL-1M2 retractable radome under the rear fuselage.


 * Df.29KY-5
 * KY = 空中预警机; Kōngzhōng yùjǐngjī ("Airborne Early Warning Aircraft")
 * AEW version, developed from the Df.29FS-4 anti-submarine version; uses a Nangong N-4J/JL Type 4 radar.


 * Df.29CSJ-5
 * CSJ = 承运人船上交付; Chéngyùn rén chuánshàng jiāofù ("Carrier On Board Delivery")
 * Carrier on board delivery, developed from the Df.29FS-4 anti-submarine version.

Operators

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