serenity
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2007
- Messages
- 2,102
- Reaction score
- -1
- Country
- Location
For the record, 30 hour flight time between maintenance for WS-10 was for WS-10 engine not even WS-10A. Before any unit was used for PLAAF fighters. This 30 hour between maintenance is from before 2010.
After WS-10A introduced, this time between maintenance was much higher to acceptable hours. Certainly not going to be GE or PW engine level like F110 but still there were redesigns from 2010 onwards.
Since introducing WS-10A and newer WS-10 engines after the A model, it has been on service with J-11B for now over 10 years. It has recently been used in service with J-10C after it has 10 years of proven record and PLAAF is satisfied with its reliability for single engine fighter.
Now the average time between maintenance is of course much more than 30 hours. 30 hours was prototype WS-10 engines and before 2010. Already more than 10 years since then.
F110 average time between maintenance is 600 to 700 hours. Its prototype is not shown.
So basically they were talking about WS-10 first model prototype and pretending it is the same for WS-10A/B/G/x that has been developed and made more than 10 years later.
If WS-10 ever had only 30 hours flight time before maintenance, it would not be used by PLAAF. China would need to spend $10 trillion US dollars just to buy engines. So you think each engine only lasts a bit longer than one day before it needs long overhaul and costly maintenance and new parts? Sometimes people are seriously too stupid to think.
The truth is during development and when the initial prototypes finishes, the testing revealed serious material issue which limit use to 30 hours before overhaul required. This problem was then overcome to I remember was around 200 to 300 hours which is still only half the American equivalent and around same as Russia's level. Then the third development cycle for WS-10 which is current one basically, raised it a little further.
It can basically choose higher power or longer life for the engineers and the PLAAF decided whatever it selected over the other. The rumors after 300 hour between overhaul was that it eventually surpassed Russian Al-31 timing but with slightly lowered power. Basically now, it has not issue to approach 500 hours or more.
If this isn't true, PLAAF would spend many fortunes just to keep more than 200 fighters currently been using the WS-10 some for 10 years now. It wouldn't also want WS-10 on J-10C.
After WS-10A introduced, this time between maintenance was much higher to acceptable hours. Certainly not going to be GE or PW engine level like F110 but still there were redesigns from 2010 onwards.
Since introducing WS-10A and newer WS-10 engines after the A model, it has been on service with J-11B for now over 10 years. It has recently been used in service with J-10C after it has 10 years of proven record and PLAAF is satisfied with its reliability for single engine fighter.
Now the average time between maintenance is of course much more than 30 hours. 30 hours was prototype WS-10 engines and before 2010. Already more than 10 years since then.
F110 average time between maintenance is 600 to 700 hours. Its prototype is not shown.
So basically they were talking about WS-10 first model prototype and pretending it is the same for WS-10A/B/G/x that has been developed and made more than 10 years later.
If WS-10 ever had only 30 hours flight time before maintenance, it would not be used by PLAAF. China would need to spend $10 trillion US dollars just to buy engines. So you think each engine only lasts a bit longer than one day before it needs long overhaul and costly maintenance and new parts? Sometimes people are seriously too stupid to think.
The truth is during development and when the initial prototypes finishes, the testing revealed serious material issue which limit use to 30 hours before overhaul required. This problem was then overcome to I remember was around 200 to 300 hours which is still only half the American equivalent and around same as Russia's level. Then the third development cycle for WS-10 which is current one basically, raised it a little further.
It can basically choose higher power or longer life for the engineers and the PLAAF decided whatever it selected over the other. The rumors after 300 hour between overhaul was that it eventually surpassed Russian Al-31 timing but with slightly lowered power. Basically now, it has not issue to approach 500 hours or more.
If this isn't true, PLAAF would spend many fortunes just to keep more than 200 fighters currently been using the WS-10 some for 10 years now. It wouldn't also want WS-10 on J-10C.
Last edited:
