China Flanker Thread II

[crobato]

It also means that CAC and SAC don't produce the airframe from start to finish all in the same facility. EBW requires a special facility because Titanium welding can only occur within an environment filled with an inert gas like Xenon or Argon. So there has to be an encased environment to do the welding and the welders have to wear special suits.

These specialized facilities might have to do work on submarines as well.

 

[Semi-Lobster]

It also means that CAC and SAC don't produce the airframe from start to finish all in the same facility. EBW requires a special facility because Titanium welding can only occur within an environment filled with an inert gas like Xenon or Argon. So there has to be an encased environment to do the welding and the welders have to wear special suits.

These specialized facilities might have to do work on submarines as well.

Is EBW used on all modern aircraft production? Sorry for the rather basic question but I do not know very much about aircraft production after WWII.

 

[crobato]

EBW is used for welding between two dissimilar metals, e.g. Titanium alloy to Aluminum alloy, or Titanium alloy to steel. So if you think a platform's frame would require such work, then its likely EBW has to be employed.

 

[tphuang]

Indeed, the J-10 for example was only introduced into PLAAF service in 2003 and six years later we have ~140 of them. But still, thats around 22-23 per year although I assume the production pace was accelerated as the years went on.

hmm, they are not producing it at the same rate you know. Back in the heydays (2005, 2006), they were producing 4 to 5 a month easily. But it slowed down to like nothing this past year, because they were lacking engines and possibly spent more time on upgrading the earlier J-10s and working on J-10B.

 

[Semi-Lobster]

hmm, they are not producing it at the same rate you know. Back in the heydays (2005, 2006), they were producing 4 to 5 a month easily. But it slowed down to like nothing this past year, because they were lacking engines and possibly spent more time on upgrading the earlier J-10s and working on J-10B.

Do you think Chengdu will be able to get another contract for more RD-33s? As far as I can tell WS-10 variants are still not quite up to PLAAF requirements yet.

EDIT: Yes, yes I mean't the AL-31FN, I was just very tired when I posted this. Sometimes I feel like the only person in my timezone when I post here!

 

[Deino]

hmm, they are not producing it at the same rate you know. Back in the heydays (2005, 2006), they were producing 4 to 5 a month easily. But it slowed down to like nothing this past year, because they were lacking engines and possibly spent more time on upgrading the earlier J-10s and working on J-10B.

Hmmm ...
that may be a good explanation about the missing of realy new J-10 pictures from new regiments.
I know that the general hype about that type has cooled down a lot by most observers esp. after Zhuhai, but if I remember we received some information or at least rumours about new regiments in nearly anual steps.
Sadly until now nothing new ... not even a clear picture of a 1. or 2. Division bird (as clear as the 3. and 44. Division ones)


Deino

 

[PrOeLiTeZ]

Do you think Chengdu will be able to get another contract for more RD-33s? As far as I can tell WS-10 variants are still not quite up to PLAAF requirements yet.

umm...RD-33??? for what use and aircraft. The only Russian engines installed on fighters in Chinese inventory are the AL-31 for J-10/J-11, they dont use RD-33. Unless your talking about the RD-93 for the FC-1. RD-33 and RD-93 are different. Though a variant of RD-33 its still different design, having the gearbox on the bottom.

 

[Semi-Lobster]

umm...RD-33??? for what use and aircraft. The only Russian engines installed on fighters in Chinese inventory are the AL-31 for J-10/J-11, they dont use RD-33. Unless your talking about the RD-93 for the FC-1. RD-33 and RD-93 are different. Though a variant of RD-33 its still different design, having the gearbox on the bottom.

Ahhhh..... sorry, posting late at night with not enough coffe can sometimes produce... unitended results:coffee:

 

[escobar]

SAC does well to go slowly to maximize equipment quality . Rushing does nothing

 

[antimatter]

I am assuming the J-11Bs are using the WS-10A, no more Russian engines.
but what about the T/W ratio issue of the WS-10A?