China's V/STOL studies, concepts & considerations

mack8 said:

So a VTOL J-35?! That is certainly what the drawing silhouette alludes to. Though given the current advances, maybe a VTOL J-50 would be more appropriate and future-proof.

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The challenges associated with designing a dual-engine S/VTOL aircraft is much bigger than single-engine ones. There is also the question of in case one of the two engines failed - Would the other engine be capable of holding the aircraft in the air in S/VTOL mode for emergency landing, especially when operating on the high seas and having one or two LHD/A as the only flat-deck available?

Love it or hate it - The F-35B's shaft-driven lift fan + thrust-vectoring nozzle design is pretty much the best design we can achieve using current technology.

mack8 said:

So based on these patents, can we conclude that there is serious interest and perhaps even moves toward VTOL combat aircraft for PLAN?

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There certainly are interests within the PLA in S/VTOL technology - Pop3 already indicated that both Chengdu AC and Shenyang AC are looking into the technology just before he quit the top81 forum.

However, whether there will be actual S/VTOL warplanes coming out of the efforts - We have no idea. I'd think it's better to view the present development as "Oh, seems like they really are looking into S/VTOL technology", and just leave it there.

by78 said:

Illustrations from a patent on a twin-engine V/STOL concept. I haven't been able to locate the patent. Instead of a single centerline lift fan, it has two retractable electric lift fans on either side of the fuselage.

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They're putting a lot of faith in EDFs to provide that much lift.

But if the future is truly moving towards a more hybridized powertrain for fighter jets this might make sense if the whole twin motor, movable system is lighter than the F-35Bs shaft/fan setup, but I doubt it.

CaribouTruth said:

They're putting a lot of faith in EDFs to provide that much lift.

But if the future is truly moving towards a more hybridized powertrain for fighter jets this might make sense if the whole twin motor, movable system is lighter than the F-35Bs shaft/fan setup, but I doubt it.

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The system used on the old Harrier is far less complex than these and new turbofans could be way better and lighter than the pegasus engine. The problem to the Harrier system is the large diameter fan and distributed nozzles that are hard on aerodynamics and stealth. Still the Boeing X-32 used that concept of a direct lift engine with gas redirected with valve to give lift to the front.

Another V/STOL patent, this time from Shenyang Engine Research Institute. It calls for an electrically driven central lift fan with no mechanical connection to the engine, thus saving both space and reducing over all complexity. If I'm reading this correctly, the system is powered by liquid hydrogen, which is also used to cool the electric motor driving the lift fan.