Chinese Engine Development

latenlazy

Brigadier
But has WS-15 been flight tested? if not, is it normal to test batch production before it?

As for the WS-19 image, are you refering to this?
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Flight testing should primarily be for airframe integration testing and subsequent optimization. That comes near the end or completion of production prototype testing. When China was flight testing the WS-10 on a flying testbed and then a J-11 they didn’t have the facilities to simulate different air conditions and didn’t have confidence or experience with modern engine testing methods, but normally these tests are done on a platform in specialized wind tunnels. Turnaround times with the latter method is much shorter, and it involves a lot less work with regards to maintenance, design revision, and setup. China’s engine testing infrastructure has become a lot more developed, so it’s unlikely we’ll see the WS-15 go onto a flying test bed the way we say the WS-10. By the time it’s flying in the air it will probably be in one of the prototype J-20s doing the aforementioned integration testing.

And yes, that image is a test prototype of the WS-19.
 

Xizor

Captain
Registered Member
I believe the WS-15 has been flight tested already. It's just that it has not been mass produced.

Sounding like a frog here, but, I'm more interested in the WS-19. It's actually the most important Turbofan for a China considering the shifting focus to seapower and UAV systems.
 

Orthan

Senior Member
I believe the WS-15 has been flight tested already. It's just that it has not been mass produced.

Sounding like a frog here, but, I'm more interested in the WS-19. It's actually the most important Turbofan for a China considering the shifting focus to seapower and UAV systems.

I dont think that anyone here knows if the WS-15 has been flight-tested or not.

And no, the WS-19 is not more important than the WS-15. The contrary is the case. The WS-15 is much more important than WS-19.
 

stannislas

Junior Member
Registered Member
I dont think that anyone here knows if the WS-15 has been flight-tested or not.

And no, the WS-19 is not more important than the WS-15. The contrary is the case. The WS-15 is much more important than WS-19.
I think there was a piece of news/rumor regarding WS-15 was in a fly test back in 2018, but that was it...
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
I dont think that anyone here knows if the WS-15 has been flight-tested or not.

And no, the WS-19 is not more important than the WS-15. The contrary is the case. The WS-15 is much more important than WS-19.

These days you don't need flight tested until you need to integrate the engine with the plane. As previous post explained China infrastructure is better now they can test it in simulation facilities instead of flight tested. they definitely tested it for sure
 

Figaro

Senior Member
Registered Member
I think there was a piece of news/rumor regarding WS-15 was in a fly test back in 2018, but that was it...
Shi Lao said the WS-15 has been flight tested early last year (most people assume on a modified J-11 because he specifically mentioned not J-20).
I dont think that anyone here knows if the WS-15 has been flight-tested or not.
Most likely it has. No one can say for 100% but it is very likely at this point. As with the WS-10, there is not going to be much news until after serialization.
 
Top