China Civil Aviation Industry, Technology, Infrastructure: News & Discussions

[onebyone]

Lockheed Martin plans to build the fly the first prototype of a mach 6 SR-72 hypersonic plane as early as 2018. the SR-72 will be a strike and reconnaissance aircraft that tops Mach 6.

Hypersonic technologies, including a combined cycle propulsion system that blends a rocket engine and a supersonic jet engine, are now sufficiently advanced to allow the planned SR-72 project to begin.

China’s Turboaided rocket augmented ram/scramjet combined cycle

China is looking to free jet test a Turboaided rocket augmented ram/scramjet combined cycle (TRRE) engine later this year.
Concept combines three main propulsion systems—turbine, rockets, ram/scramjets—in just two main ducts.
Capable of operations from zero to Mach 6+, with targeted top speed in Mach 10 range

China’s TRRE engine is similar to several earlier combined cycle concepts, including the Trijet proposed by Aerojet Rocketdyne in 2008, the TRRE incorporates the three main propulsion systems in just two main ducts. The TRRE consists of a turbine, liquid oxygen/keroseneliquidfueled rockets and a kerosenefueled ram/scramjet combined with a common inlet and exhaust and is designed to operate from a standing start to Mach 6+. The turbine, which operates from takeoff to Mach 2, is housed in an upper lowspeed duct, while the ramjet and rockets are located in the lower highspeed duct. Two rockets are mounted in the duct; an aftmounted rocket for transonic acceleration and mode transition, and a main rocket mounted farther forward in the duct for flame stabilization during acceleration through to scramjet transition at Mach 6.

Results show that the TRRE engine can reconcile the demands of high thrust at lower Mach numbers and high specific impulse at a Mach number of 6.0.

* Best aspect of the TRRE is that it can solve the problems of an RBCC at low thrust and low speed by using the turbine engine for takeoff and landing as well as low speed flight
* solves the problem of the TBCC transition thrust ‘pinch,’ and can achieve a high specific thrust from Mach 3 to Mach 10.

Numerical test results of the TRRE prototype show it can “operate in the full flight envelope of Mach 06+ and have demonstrated the integrated high and lowspeed channels work cooperatively

China is working towards a flying hypersonic demonstrator. The turbine will likely be based on the WS15, a supercruising turbofan under development by Xian Aero Engine Corp. for later production versions of the twinengine Chengdu J20 stealth fighter. However, even though the initial batch of J20s entered service early this year with the People’s Liberation Air Force, they are believed to be powered by an interim variant of the Russianmade Saturn AL31 rather than the WS15.

Work on the WS-15 has been delayed by quality control issues with relatively recently developed areas of advanced engine technology for China, specifically singlecrystal superalloy turbine blades and powder metallurgy superalloy turbine disks.

Before 2025, China will select a mature turbine hypersonic engine.

Phase three of China’s hypersonic plane program will go from 2025 to 2030. China will focus on development and integration of an advanced highspeed turbine engine into the TRRE. Program success will also hinge on parallel breakthroughs in “the operation of the scramjet at higher Mach numbers, particularly in technology areas such as the adjustable combustion chamber ramjet suitable for a wide range of work.

 

[onebyone]

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/...lose-to-flying-hypersonic-demo-airplanes.html

 

[JSCh]

Comac to get ARJ21 production certificate this week

• 04 July, 2017
• SOURCE: Flight Dashboard
• BY: Mavis Toh
• Singapore

Comac is close to securing the production certificate for its ARJ21 regional jet, sources say.

FlightGlobal understands that the manufacturer has completed all necessary work and met the requirements. A final evaluation by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has also been completed.

The Chinese manufacturer is scheduled to be awarded the production certificate in a ceremony this weekend, sources add.

The certification comes just weeks after the ARJ21 completed its first year of commercial operations, and more than 2.5 years since the aircraft was type certificated. Launch customer Chengdu Airlines has two of the regional jets in service, operating 16 sectors weekly from Chengdu to Changsha and Shanghai.

Last September, FlightGlobal reported that the CAAC has given Comac a list of seven or eight improvements it must make to the jet before it will provide a production certificate for the type. Without a production certificate, every aircraft manufactured has to be certificated individually.

The manufacturer also told FlightGlobal that it was on a mission to upgrade the jet, following feedback from Chengdu Airlines. Items that needed addressing included reducing cabin nose, simplifying the aircraft's warning systems, installing an aircraft crew address and reporting system, resolving a door pressure issue, as well as to make the aircraft safe for operations even in heavy rain.

In April, Comac undertook new flight tests following some design optimisation of the aircraft.

Comac is targeting to deliver five ARJ21s to Chengdu Airlines this year.


Comac to get ARJ21 production certificate this week | FlightGlobal

 

[JSCh]

Comac to get ARJ21 production certificate this week

• 04 July, 2017
• SOURCE: Flight Dashboard
• BY: Mavis Toh
• Singapore

Comac is close to securing the production certificate for its ARJ21 regional jet, sources say.

Comac to get ARJ21 production certificate this week | FlightGlobal

 

[Han Patriot]

View attachment 409889​

Wow, 10 years of hard work. Anyway C919 will be smoother from this experience.

 

[qwerrty]

Hypersonic Air Travel on Horizon With Creation of New Heat-resistant Coating

AFP Relaxnews
Updated:July 11, 2017, 9:52 AM IST

Scientists from the UK and China have created a new ceramic coating that could be used to develop a hypersonic plane capable of flying between London and New York in two hours.

The new material is being described as potentially revolutionary in the aerospace industry, for its ability to resist temperatures of up to 3,000 C -- the level of heat generated by moving at five times the speed of sound.

Hypersonic travel is defined as moving at Mach five or more.

The scientists at the University of Manchester and Central South University in China who developed the material claim that the carbide coating is 12 times more effective than conventional ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) used on other hypersonic vehicles like rockets, re-entry spacecraft and defense projectiles.

"Future hypersonic aerospace vehicles offer the potential of a step jump in transit speeds. A hypersonic plane could fly from London to New York in just two hours and would revolutionize both commercial and commuter travel," said Philip Withers of the University of Manchester.

In addition to resisting both heat and oxidation, the coating was created using a process called reactive melt infiltration, which dramatically reduces the development process. The coating is also reinforced with carbon-carbon composite, making it extremely strong and resistant to regular surface degradation.

https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15836
http://www.aerospace-technology.com...-coating-for-use-in-hypersonic-travel-5864894
http://www.news18.com/news/lifestyl...on-of-new-heat-resistant-coating-1457653.html

 

[GeraltofRivia]

Another breakthrough for the betterment of humanity.

 

[Malik Usman]

Step towards a Man mission to Mars..............

 

[kuge]

for turbine fan blades too?

 

[JSCh]

2nd C919 made ready for tests
Source: Xinhua | 00:01 UTC+8 July 27, 2017

A second C919 aircraft made for flying tests is seen taking shape at a Commercial Aircraft Corp of China plant in Shanghai yesterday. The plane is set to undertake onboard tests soon and is expected to make its first flight in the fourth quarter of the year, the corporation said. The first C919, China’s first home-developed narrow-body passenger aircraft, made its maiden flight at the city’s Pudong International Airport on May 5. It was used to test flying conditions, onboard equipment and landing gear while the second will be tested on engine and fuel systems, the developer of the single-aisle, 150-seat jetliner said earlier. Six C919 jets will be assembled for flying tests before it begins commercial operation, which is scheduled to take place around 2020. — Xinhua

 

[JSCh]

Sentury's China-made aircraft tires set to roll
By WANG YING in Shanghai and XIE CHUANJIAO in Qingdao, Shandong | China Daily | Updated: 2017-08-10 07:54

A maintenance man checks the tire of an aircraft which just taxied to the parking apron in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. CHEN ZHONGQIU / FOR CHINA DAILY

The first batch of commercial aircraft tires made by a Chinese company is expected to roll off the production line by the end of this year, which will likely end the history of total reliance on imported tires for China's civilian aircraft.

Qingdao Sentury Tire Co Ltd, manufacturer of the home-made aircraft tire, has just poured 300 million yuan ($44 million) into the new facility, which covers 30,000 square meters and will reach a capacity of 150,000 tires per annum in the coming five years.

Lin Yilong, general manager from Qingdao Sentury, said bullish market needs have provided a huge opportunity for airplane tire producers.

According to Boeing's forecast, China's civilian aircraft fleet, including both passenger aircraft and cargo aircraft, will reach 7,210 by 2034, nearly three times that of 2014.

This will create a lucrative market for aircraft tires as the industry practice is to replace aircraft tires after 150 takeoffs and landings.

The aircraft tire market is dominated by Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear, whose market shares are 37 percent, 30 percent and 20 percent respectively, according to Lin.

Qingdao Sentury also plans to develop tires for defense aircraft. According to RUAG World Air Forces Special Report 2015, there are 2,787 defense aircraft in China.

Qingdao Sentury started its moves in this direction seven years ago, when a 53-member team was formed for the research and development of aircraft tires.

But producing a high-performance plane tire is not easy because it has to bear the weight of a plane full of passengers and cargo, resist the smash onto the ground, and remain stable on sun-baked ground as well as in skies under zero temperature.

"Our group was challenged by the strict and specific demand for the airplane tire. It requires dozens of times load capacity of traditional automobile tires, and some three and four times the speed of regular car tires," said Sheng Baoxin, vice-general manager with Qingdao Sentury.

After going through countless failures and tests, Sentury's tire team mastered the state-of-art technology and even received independent intellectual property rights. What is more, its low costs in logistics and delivery efficiency have gained a special advantage over well-known international peers.

In December 2016, Sentury received approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for producing aircraft tires for use in China on four Boeing 737 aircraft models.

Later, Sentury sought to research and develop tires for the Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A320, Airbus A350 and the Airbus A380 models, as well as for China's homegrown passenger aircraft, the C919, and regional jet, the ARJ21, etc.

"Currently, we are preparing to apply for more airworthiness certifications from the US and Europe, as well as in other nations and regions. Meantime, we will also apply for approvals of the world's major aircraft makers for original installation in aircraft of Airbus, Boeing and COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China)," said Sheng.

 

[Han Patriot]

Sentury's China-made aircraft tires set to roll
By WANG YING in Shanghai and XIE CHUANJIAO in Qingdao, Shandong | China Daily | Updated: 2017-08-10 07:54

A maintenance man checks the tire of an aircraft which just taxied to the parking apron in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. CHEN ZHONGQIU / FOR CHINA DAILY

The first batch of commercial aircraft tires made by a Chinese company is expected to roll off the production line by the end of this year, which will likely end the history of total reliance on imported tires for China's civilian aircraft.

Qingdao Sentury Tire Co Ltd, manufacturer of the home-made aircraft tire, has just poured 300 million yuan ($44 million) into the new facility, which covers 30,000 square meters and will reach a capacity of 150,000 tires per annum in the coming five years.

Lin Yilong, general manager from Qingdao Sentury, said bullish market needs have provided a huge opportunity for airplane tire producers.

According to Boeing's forecast, China's civilian aircraft fleet, including both passenger aircraft and cargo aircraft, will reach 7,210 by 2034, nearly three times that of 2014.

This will create a lucrative market for aircraft tires as the industry practice is to replace aircraft tires after 150 takeoffs and landings.

The aircraft tire market is dominated by Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear, whose market shares are 37 percent, 30 percent and 20 percent respectively, according to Lin.

Qingdao Sentury also plans to develop tires for defense aircraft. According to RUAG World Air Forces Special Report 2015, there are 2,787 defense aircraft in China.

Qingdao Sentury started its moves in this direction seven years ago, when a 53-member team was formed for the research and development of aircraft tires.

But producing a high-performance plane tire is not easy because it has to bear the weight of a plane full of passengers and cargo, resist the smash onto the ground, and remain stable on sun-baked ground as well as in skies under zero temperature.

"Our group was challenged by the strict and specific demand for the airplane tire. It requires dozens of times load capacity of traditional automobile tires, and some three and four times the speed of regular car tires," said Sheng Baoxin, vice-general manager with Qingdao Sentury.

After going through countless failures and tests, Sentury's tire team mastered the state-of-art technology and even received independent intellectual property rights. What is more, its low costs in logistics and delivery efficiency have gained a special advantage over well-known international peers.

In December 2016, Sentury received approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for producing aircraft tires for use in China on four Boeing 737 aircraft models.

Later, Sentury sought to research and develop tires for the Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A320, Airbus A350 and the Airbus A380 models, as well as for China's homegrown passenger aircraft, the C919, and regional jet, the ARJ21, etc.

"Currently, we are preparing to apply for more airworthiness certifications from the US and Europe, as well as in other nations and regions. Meantime, we will also apply for approvals of the world's major aircraft makers for original installation in aircraft of Airbus, Boeing and COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China)," said Sheng.

I know China had been making military jet tires, but it is only now we start making civillian jet tires. Well those Airbuses and Boeings will require alot of replacement tires.

 

[JSCh]

China's new amphibious plane passes key test
Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-11 23:42:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan



JINGMEN, Hubei, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The TA600, a China-developed amphibious aircraft, passed a hydrodynamic test on Friday, marking a step forward toward its maiden flight.

The test, which aimed to ensure the safety of the aircraft during take-off and flight, was conducted by a laboratory under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in central China's Hubei Province.

It used a 1:10 model to test the aircraft's performance on still water and rough water surfaces.

When an aircraft takes off from the water's surface, disturbances from waves may cause it to pitch, threatening the safety of the aircraft.

The major difficulty was the kinetic stability of the plane when there were two-meter-high waves, said Jie Yu, the chief of the TA600 testing group.

The TA600, with a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tonnes, is expected to serve in firefighting and maritime rescue operations.

An amphibious aircraft AG600 is displayed for the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong province, Oct 30, 2016. The AG600 is by far the world's largest amphibian aircraft, about the size of a Boeing 737. [Photo/Xinhua]

 

[Keel]

Sino-Russian widebody jet to use self-developed engines

Joint venture insists it has the ability of break the duopoly enjoyed by General Electric and Rolls-Royce

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 31 August, 2017, 10:31pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 31 August, 2017, 10:48pm

Daniel Ren


Rostec State Corporation, the Russian industrial conglomerate co-developing a long-haul widebody aircraft with China, has said the two countries will develop their own engines for the project, with the apparent longer-term aim of breaking the duopoly enjoyed by General Electric and Rolls-Royce.

Victor Kladov, director of Rostec’s international cooperation and regional policy, said the development and manufacture of an engine for the planned 280-seat widebody jet, known as the C929, is a top priority.

“Only China and Russia will be the manufacturers of the engine,” he said, and “will try our best to churn out a best-class engine, to support this aeroplane [project].”

China and Russia have lofty ambitions for the widebody jet, which is being designed to have a range of 12,000 kilometres.

Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) and Russian companies including aircraft assembler United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and Rostec set up a 50-50 joint venture last year to develop the long-haul passenger plane, with deliveries targeted at beginning in 2025.

The global long-haul aero engine market is currently dominated by GE and Rolls-Royce.

“We don’t entirely rule out possible cooperation with GE and Rolls-Royce, but even if they were to be invited to participate in the development, it would only be at the early stage,” Kladov said.

Comac’s initial efforts at building a large commercial aeroplane have proved a somewhat convoluted process, after it took eight years to launch the smaller 168-seat single-aisle C919, which has a range of up to 5,556km.

The narrow-body jet made its maiden flight in early May and has yet to set a definitive time frame for deliveries.

The government has spent dozens of billions of dollars buying key components for the C919, including its engines and avionics systems, from 15 international companies including GE and Honeywell.

The narrow-body jet is aimed at challenging the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, and was expected to take to the skies commercially by 2014.

Industry sources attributed the three-year delay in that project to Comac’s unsuccessful efforts to gel with foreign suppliers.

It also took Comac seven years to get its first aircraft, the 78-seat regional jet ARJ-21 into operation after its 2008 debut flight, with its first deliveries made in 2015.

The C919 already has 570 orders from 23 foreign and domestic customers, and Comac officials predict China will require 6,865 new aircraft over the next 20 years, just over a fifth of those twin-aisle planes.

Rostec also announced it would soon sign an agreement with Aviation Industry Corp of China’s general aviation subsidiary Avicopter to jointly manufacture heavy-duty helicopters.

The payload of the helicopter will be up to 15 tonnes and its service ceiling, the maximum altitude an aircraft can reach, will hit 5,700 metres.

Kladov said China has demand for at least 200 helicopters of this kind.

http://www.scmp.com/tech/enterprise...ssian-widebody-jet-use-self-developed-engines

 

[JSCh]

China Aviation Expo highlights homegrown high-end products, technology
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-06 16:28:03|Editor: An



BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The domestically-developed jumbo jet C919, aircraft engines and other high-end aviation products will be highlighted at Aviation Expo China 2017 in Beijing from Sept. 19 to 22, the event organizer said Wednesday.

The expo will be held at China National Convention Center and is being jointly organized by Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC), Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) and China Promotion Ltd.

COMAC will display the Chinese-developed large passenger jet C919, new regional jet ARJ21, and a wide-body passenger jet, which will be jointly built by China and Russia.

The C919 achieved a successful maiden flight on May 5 this year, and has moved to the next phase of further testing and test flight missions, according to COMAC.

The wide-body passenger jet program is currently in the preparation phase of the proposal, after the joint venture China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Co., Ltd (CRAIC) was set up on May 22 this year.

The newly-established AECC will display its achievements in aircraft engines, gas turbines, and graphene material and high precision aluminum alloy technologies, it said.

The AECC was set up in Beijing on Aug. 28, 2016 to accelerate independent research, development and manufacturing of aircraft engines and gas turbines.

Founded in 1984, China Aviation Expo was China's first professional aviation expo.

This year it has attracted more than 300 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, with eight national pavilions, including Russia, Ukraine, Italy and Australia.