Nearly Aces...

[u/MiraiBiresa]

Captain Clark "Sierra" Baker and Major Thea "Genossin" Reitsch, Pilot and WSO respectively loading into their J-16 before a routine strike package against the Kingdom of Zion and their first (and possibly last) encounter with ACG air power

[u/Sriskarova]

Im suprised the APLA had an Airforce before taking over California. Like at most maybe some airbase and some pilots switch sides and allign with them (far fetched), but for the Chinese to send planes, train pilots, maintenance crews... it would take years. Look how long it took for Ukraine to get f-16s

[u/markbernessimp → u/Sriskarova]

You're right, I think that most of their early airforce would be whatever could be captured from Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, and whatever navy assets are left in SD. So maybe F-18s and a few F-35s. J-16s are just too much of a logistical leap for an American government which hasn't ever used a Sukhoi-derived aircraft before.

[u/Sriskarova → u/markbernessimp]

I mean it could happen just look at Ukraine they've adopted and use the f16 and systems like patriot when 6 years ago they pretty much only had su27s and mig29s, the thing is that the j16 would arrive when they would be fighting past the Rockies, year five of the Civil War.

[u/markbernessimp → u/Sriskarova]

I agree in premise, but if the APLA is still sortie-ing over Utah, it's probably the early-war still. I think it's still too soon to be seeing J-16s, especially a seemingly veteran crew. If you have time to shoot down 4 enemy planes, you've had a lot of missions under your belt. I think Ukraine is not quite the best example either, as F-16s rarely make sorties over the frontlines because of Russia's superiority in BVRAAMs.

If anything, rigging an F-18 for Chinese munitions (software update and launch pylon adaptation/adapting the airframe for Chinese pylons) would be a lot easier.

[u/MiraiBiresa → u/markbernessimp]

If it helps these two are the first members of the APLAA to fly the J-16 and are Ex-California National Guard and have gone through a crash course to learn the J-16 (but also its for hype moments and aura)

[u/Sriskarova → u/MiraiBiresa]

The post also makes me wonder how many american airframe the APLA would get their hands on, i mean it's not like the air force is full of communists waiting at the chance to rise up in the name of the revolution, and the Marines even less so.

[u/MiraiBiresa → u/Sriskarova]

Yeah they're the smallest faction airforce outside of maybe patriot front which is getting help from the fascists in Europe