Chinese Engine Development

The post by Engineeer is probably the last sensible and factual piece of information this post has seen. Let's get back to looking at the progress of the WS10 engine; we don't always need to compare it to something else to have a worthwhile discussion.

On a side note, a reminder to all (I'm looking at you Aeroengineer), red and blue are reserved for moderator warnings. Please do not use them. If you must make a strong point, you can bold or underline or italicize your text.

Thread open...

Knock off the silly arguments and insults.

Discuss the Ws 10a only.

bd popeye super moderator

I wonder if anyone has news of WS-15, WS-20 or other engines under development?

Acording to wikipedia, WS-15 was first tested on bench on 2006, thats almost 7 years and yet we havent heard of any flight test or even seen any photo of it. Meanwhile, J-20, J-31 and Y-20 all use russian made engines.

kroko said:

I wonder if anyone has news of WS-15, WS-20 or other engines under development?

Acording to wikipedia, WS-15 was first tested on bench on 2006, thats almost 7 years and yet we havent heard of any flight test or even seen any photo of it. Meanwhile, J-20, J-31 and Y-20 all use russian made engines.

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This is the area where China shall show its transparency. Even in area where mass production of helo engine has demonstrated like the one on WZ-10. Nothing is heard from PLA of its engine origin. All is pure guess and speculation.

Lion said:

This is the area where China shall show its transparency. Even in area where mass production of helo engine has demonstrated like the one on WZ-10. Nothing is heard from PLA of its engine origin. All is pure guess and speculation.

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I wonder if they have run into serious trouble with those programs. That could explain why we havent seen any photos or heard about any test flight run.

kroko said:

I wonder if they have run into serious trouble with those programs. That could explain why we havent seen any photos or heard about any test flight run.

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We haven't seen any photos of WS15 period, it doesn't indicate anything whatsoever. Test flights are conducted on board that IL76 in Yanliang, so unless people have access to the plane to verify what's inside the test engine nacelle there is no way of knowing any test flights. We saw some very limited pictures of WS10A on board J11B in test flights, but at the same time that program was in serious trouble. So I wouldn't read too much into this.

hmmwv said:

We haven't seen any photos of WS15 period, it doesn't indicate anything whatsoever. Test flights are conducted on board that IL76 in Yanliang, so unless people have access to the plane to verify what's inside the test engine nacelle there is no way of knowing any test flights. We saw some very limited pictures of WS10A on board J11B in test flights, but at the same time that program was in serious trouble. So I wouldn't read too much into this.

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My understanding is that the tests are fine, and it was the production that had been in serious trouble.

WS15 won't enter production until 2015.

kroko said:

I wonder if they have run into serious trouble with those programs. That could explain why we havent seen any photos or heard about any test flight run.

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No. My point is even a successful helo program like WZ-10 which we have seen massive footage and coverage of its deployment and comfirm continuous serial production with more than 60 in service. PLA still refuse to talk about its engine detail. How the production is run?

I don't think they have a local engine supply problem regarding for WZ-10 but still PLA would not come clean...

Same as other military engine program. PLA don't talk about their engine program , does not mean they have trouble or problem with it.

I think to know more of China aero engine program will wait until it civilian engine debut to know more detail or in depth of the development and advance level. Cause that is where China need to be open in order to sell their engine.

WS-13 turbofan engine

This thread is about the latest development and status of the WS-13 turbofan engine. While the trials and tribulations of the WS-10 is well known the WS-13 project remains in the shadow and is somewhat mysterious. This engine is China's equivalent of the Russian RD-33 or the American F-414 turbofan engines. There is very little public knowledge about this engine project and the little information about this engine out there is as far as i know is not being confirmed by any official sources.

The WS-13 project is started for the JF-17 Thunder and will be develop and build by Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation. The development of the WS-13 began in 2000 as an alternative for the Russian build RD-93 engines that's now powering the JF-17 Thunder. The engine should have 51 kN dry thrust and 86 kN thrust with afterburn. A improved version called WS-13A with 100 kN of thrust with afterburn is said to be in the works as well. The first run of the engine suppose to have taken place in 2006 and in august of 2010 at the Farnborough Airshow is being said that a JF-17 Thunder prototype is doing taxi trials with a domestic engine. This is most likely the WS-13. More recently the WS-13 is now being linked with the Shenyang J-31 stealth fighter. But the prototype that flew on 31 october 2012 is fitted with two Russian build RD-93 engines. The status of the WS-13 remains unknown and is unclear when the engine will enter production.