I bumped into this while looking for certain information that was being commented on in the ongoing engine discussion on the other thread. The spokesperson provided some information on the WS-10 and corrected a misconception on the engine lifespan.
Interview with Mr. Dong, a exhibitor of China aviation research 606 institute on production of WS-10 engine :
Taihang engine really capable? Standing next to Taihang turbojet engine WS-10 Mr. Dong said that
WS-10 engine is now fully operational and matured.
WS-10 engine is Chinese Aviation Research Institute 606's product, Mr.Dong is exhibitor of China aviation research 606 institute, these days every day he stood in the hall, elaborate WS-10 engine story to professional and non professional visitors. Mr.Dong said, he graduated from Nanjing University majoring in Aeronautics & Astronautics and started to participate in the development of WS-10 engine since his graduation.
WS10 pre-study started from year 1978, project set up in year 1987. Mr.Dong said,
WS10 had been massively mounted on the J-10 B and J-11B fighters.
Online some articles reveal, Taihang engine outer culvert box, using the composite, which greatly reduce the weight, also improves the strength and the ability of resistance to high temperature. Mr. Dong with a reporter standing besides Taihang engine, pointing to the black pitch appearance of the engine that said: ‘this is our unique characteristics,previously used here is steel or titanium alloy. Now with this newly developed composite material, which is much lighter/higher temperature resistance/higher strength’.
Mr.Dong said
WS-10 thrust to weight ratio at about 8 (the ratio of thrust to weight refers to the Trust power per unitary weight). The fourth generation engines, are all around 8 TW ratio. He also revealed, several China aviation research institutes now are jointly developing the 5th generation fighter turbojet engine with TW ratio 10. The Chinese military fans called it the WS-15 峨眉 ,which figures stealthy layout.
The J-10B as a lightweight fighter capable of carrying nearly 8 tons of weapons and excellent mobility performance, all credit to having a strong China 'heart' of WS-10 series.
Following is the Dialogue details about WS-10 indigenous engine with Mr.Dong:
Sino US engine gap less than 10 years
Reporter: 120kn-140kn what is the meaning?
Mr. Dong: Taihang developed many kinds of DERIVATIVES, t
he newest WS-10 series engine has reached 140 KN thrust. (Su-35 engine thrust of 145 KN)
Reporter: Achieve this thrust, that is to say the Taihang engine and Su-35's 117s engine thrust being roughly equivalent?
Mr. Dong: Yes, and we are still moving forward, the past few years has been to improve and develop. This is the new WS-10 engine, which have shaped up.
Reporter: It has started MASS production?
Mr. Dong: Mass service on the J-10B, J 11B.
Reporter: why the J-10, such as PLAAF eight one aerobatic team still with Russian engines?
Mr.Dong: China had bought so many Russian engine, We still utilize those engine until the life span expired.
Reporter: Can you please shed some light on the life span of WS10 compared with Russian and United States fourth generation engine?
Mr. Dong: We are slightly inferior in that part,while we have a larger room for progress. Such as some of the material shows good performance data in scientific research test, but in practical application, is still not satisfactory. It is the difficult part of aero engine development, It takes decades to improve its stability and even so with USA, not including the conceptual phase of the engine.
Reporter: Online question said that WS10 ENGINE has less than 300 hours life hours, whether this is true?
Mr.Dong: This is wrong, WS10's life
is over 1500 hours, completely in accordance with the design requirements. 300 hours is the span between each regular maintenance .
Reporter: Our engine gap with the US is there for 10 years?
Mr.Dong:
Less than 10 years.
The engine problem had been solved, WS-10 is matured :
CCTV's document about the WS-10 engine, and it has confirmed that the WS-10 engine has passed 1000 hours or over 40 days of non-stop ground test back in 2005.
