Chinese Hypersonic Developments (HGVs/HCMs)
- Thread starter A.Man
- Start date
They are two different designs. SABRE is a turbine based engine using precooler to extend its turbine based speed to Mach 2 to 3, then switch off turbine and goes into RAM mode but remains subsonic combustion. This Chinese engine is a RDE in with combustion happens in supersonic airflow (detonation). It is kind of like apple and orange. However, detonation combustion is always preferred even if the viechle's speed is subsonic because detonation is more effective and engine is simpler in terms of parts.
Only the center is something to think of.
By carefully watching the official video here
In the video of the 1st attempt it is clear that the two outside "holes" are mounting points of the release machenisms. There were no impages of 2nd attempt, but that doesn't matter really.
Before final assembly, no engine inside
In the 3rd test, one of the two outside holes (left) is signal connection, see below. They also moved the releasing points to just beside the centre "hole", compared to the 1st attempt, there were no mounting points at the same places.
Lastly, is the center "hole" really an engine? I am not sure because 1 I could not find air intakes, 2 it sounds like it is a unpowered test. Through the whole video there was no words about engine ignition or powered flight. If it is indeed an engine, it has to be using onboard oxygen, but I highly doubt it. I think we shouldn't expect too much from these tests since they are only early steps to gain knowledge of how to control such flight. Adding engine would be some time later.
Great analysis of the imagery available.
I do believe those were just unpowered tests, but I assume the middle space is supposed to be a engine be it a rocket or something else. As seen on a MD-22 mockup, there were intakes spotted on the bottom of their models. The MD-19 seems to be a small flight test model, with the 22 being the intended design.
I agree that the middle "hole" is where the engine would be. MD-19 has a fairing but MD-22 doesn't. I suppose that they want to get the back side arodynamic of MD-22 as close as possible to when engine is mounted or that is a dummy engine.
Can you post or re-post the mockup image that shows the intakes? The video did show the underside of MD-22, but it seems perfectly flat and I couldn't find any sign of intake.
So from what I understand they lifted the model with a high-altitude balloon. Then they dropped the model and ignited the engine. Neat.
SCMP includes the video claims about Qian Xuesen's interest in spaceplanes. While it is true that he had this interest, the thing is, he got it after knowing of Eugene Sänger's work as part of Operation Paperclip after WW2. Sänger came up with the Silbervogel design.
While the design was impractical, not possible with the technologies of the time, it was an important concept. Sänger and his wife Bredt invented the regeneratively cooled rocket nozzle for example.
SCMP includes the video claims about Qian Xuesen's interest in spaceplanes. While it is true that he had this interest, the thing is, he got it after knowing of Eugene Sänger's work as part of Operation Paperclip after WW2. Sänger came up with the Silbervogel design.
While the design was impractical, not possible with the technologies of the time, it was an important concept. Sänger and his wife Bredt invented the regeneratively cooled rocket nozzle for example.
Last edited: