Chinese Engine Development

I think there is a case of confirmation bias with the big shrimps. For every 055 or J-20 leak there is also confirmed news of JH-XX entering service or WS-20 ready. Yes, the big shrimps have more reliable info than normal forum goers, but their words are not the gospel. Keep in mind that engineering projects are prone to delays, some of which unforeseen. Even if the leaker’s info is right in March, it may not be correct by October or even May.

siegecrossbow said:

I think there is a case of confirmation bias with the big shrimps. For every 055 or J-20 leak there is also confirmed news of JH-XX entering service or WS-20 ready. Yes, the big shrimps have more reliable info than normal forum goers, but their words are not the gospel. Keep in mind that engineering projects are prone to delays, some of which unforeseen. Even if the leaker’s info is right in March, it may not be correct by October or even May.

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Sometimes the delays are a good thing (at least from a technical capability standpoint). For projects with long development timelines new component tech sometimes emerges and requirements can change as a result.

The WS-20 would be a viable replacement for the C919's engines in case the US hits China with sanctions.
It won't be particularly efficient but at least the aircraft would fly even if would have older generation performance.
Once new engines are developed they could re-engine the airplanes.

gelgoog said:

The WS-20 would be a viable replacement for the C919's engines in case the US hits China with sanctions.
It won't be particularly efficient but at least the aircraft would fly even if would have older generation performance.
Once new engines are developed they could re-engine the airplanes.

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Pardon to be less optimistic. If the US don'T deliver the engines, the C919 is dead since the WS-20 is NOT a viable replacement - it is in fact not even used in any military type, where fuel efficiency is less important.

Deino said:

Pardon to be less optimistic. If the US don'T deliver the engines, the C919 is dead since the WS-20 is NOT a viable replacement - it is in fact not even used in any military type, where fuel efficiency is less important.

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From what I understand if it gets completed it would have similar engine performance to the A320 CEO but not the A320 NEO yes.
So in that regard it would not be competitive. But the native engine option is expected to be available in 2030. That is problematic.

If the US slaps China with sanctions on any aircraft engines with some US content there go the P&W series and the CFM series engines.
There is precedent with what happened with Huawei. Plus if they claimed that Huawei is "connected to the Chinese military" just because the founder used to be in the PLA as a signals officer before retirement, what do you think they can do to a project from a state company like COMAC with ties to AVIC?

gelgoog said:

From what I understand if it gets completed it would have similar engine performance to the A320 CEO but not the A320 NEO yes.

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No, surely never ever ...

Deino said:

No, surely never ever ...

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So you think the WS-20 will have worse performance than the CFM-56? Now that's pessimistic.

gelgoog said:

So you think the WS-20 will have worse performance than the CFM-56? Now that's pessimistic.

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Well...for commercial applications...yeah. It’s a military turbofan, built around different requirements.

Isn't the CJ-1000 engine the commercial high bypass turbofan intended for the C919 after first using the P&W Leap engine in initial blocks? When was WS-20 ever intended for C919?

Deino said:

No, surely never ever ...

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WS-20 flight tests already delivered around 10% if not more thrust than the high bypass engines used in the A320 from the CFM to IAE to PW engines. They're all 90 to 110KN whereas the WS-20 has achieved more than 120KN. Perhaps you were thinking of some other high bypass engines from CFM/PW/GE with the 180KN thrust range.

In any case why are we forgetting the CJ-1000A. I was under the impression the CJ-1000A is further along development compared to the WS-20. WS-20 intended for the Y-20 and the CJ-1000A intended for the C919.