China conducts first test-flight of stealth plane

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by glatt

But it's not a full service carrier, because when it was being built originally for the Soviet Union, the only way it would be allowed to pass through Turkey to the Mediterranean is if it wasn't designated an aircraft carrier. So it has limited functions, which I don't really understand. It looks like a carrier to me.

No catapult, severely limiting the types of aircraft it can handle, ie no serious fighters.

Originally Posted by loTEK911

I don't know what goes into building one, but it's probably economically crippling. Hell, I'm shocked to see the UK only has 2 & Russia only has one.

The UK will retire those two when their new one comes on line. The new one is $5 billion+.