Chinese UAV/UCAV development

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taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
A second thought about the suspected Dark Sword tail component. Since the engine opening isn't truly circular, will this component be the tail of a new hypersonic aircraft with TBCC engine?
The engine opening is circular. The photo was apparently out of promotion, a common human error when inserting pictures in a document in word processing software. Just look at the small holes which should be circular but not. These small holes are either for passing cables and pipes or for weight reduction, there is no reason for them to be non-circular.
 

by78

General
On January 18th, the all-compiste WingLoong-1E successfully completed its maiden flight.

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Schwerter_

Junior Member
Registered Member
The engine opening is circular. The photo was apparently out of promotion, a common human error when inserting pictures in a document in word processing software. Just look at the small holes which should be circular but not. These small holes are either for passing cables and pipes or for weight reduction, there is no reason for them to be non-circular.
Yeah it does look out of proportion. I edited it a bit to make the small holes look (more or less) round, here it is.
1.png

interestingly the engine opening still looks oval-ish, or more accurately two approximately half-rings with a straight lines connecting them. Personally I can't think of a reason for this, but that's just me.
 

Tirdent

Junior Member
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On January 18th, the all-compiste WingLoong-1E successfully completed its maiden flight.

Nice! The Wing Loong family was always a bit of an oddity among HALE/MALE UAVs (including its domestic rivals) in that it seemed to use majority aluminium construction.
 

Tirdent

Junior Member
Registered Member
Yeah it does look out of proportion. I edited it a bit to make the small holes look (more or less) round, here it is.
View attachment 81636

interestingly the engine opening still looks oval-ish, or more accurately two approximately half-rings with a straight lines connecting them. Personally I can't think of a reason for this, but that's just me.

While the flow path and casing of a jet engine are obviously circular, the overall envelope including accessory gearbox and other external dressings generally isn't. The Su-27 engine bays for example also have the kind of cross section you describe.
 

Schwerter_

Junior Member
Registered Member
While the flow path and casing of a jet engine are obviously circular, the overall envelope including accessory gearbox and other external dressings generally isn't. The Su-27 engine bays for example also have the kind of cross section you describe.
Well that may explain a lot. Since we know that WS-10 is widely used in flankers, it would be possible that its overall size would require a oval-ish bay.
 

ascii

New Member
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Yeah it does look out of proportion. I edited it a bit to make the small holes look (more or less) round, here it is.
View attachment 81636

interestingly the engine opening still looks oval-ish, or more accurately two approximately half-rings with a straight lines connecting them. Personally I can't think of a reason for this, but that's just me.

An aero engine has extra accessories, like gearbox.
0.jpg
 

cdcywlau

New Member
Registered Member
Yeah it does look out of proportion. I edited it a bit to make the small holes look (more or less) round, here it is.
View attachment 81636

interestingly the engine opening still looks oval-ish, or more accurately two approximately half-rings with a straight lines connecting them. Personally I can't think of a reason for this, but that's just me.
Notice that this component should have been the rearest part of the airframe, and will house the nozzle of the engine; so it is very strange for this oval opening if it is for conventional turbofan engine which will normally have a circular exhaust nozzle section. That's why I am pondering on a different type of engine, such as TBCC.
 

Schwerter_

Junior Member
Registered Member
Notice that this component should have been the rearest part of the airframe, and will house the nozzle of the engine; so it is very strange for this oval opening if it is for conventional turbofan engine which will normally have a circular exhaust nozzle section. That's why I am pondering on a different type of engine, such as TBCC.
well not necessarily at the very rear, looking at the extensions for vertical stabs this may well be at the middle or even frontal part of the vertical stabs, which itself may be mounted at a relatively forward location on the aircraft.
 
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