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 Df.29Js and began their training programs in March.

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)