CHENGDU, China – As China’s well-funded push to build up its aero engine industry gathers strength, details are emerging of new aviation powerplants in early development. Three of the new engines – a turboprop, turboshaft and turbofan – form a family built on a common core, while two others – turbofans for commercial aircraft – are based on the common approach of scaling turbo machinery up or down to meet different thrust requirements.
LONDON — The U.K. defense ministry has confirmed it is building three landing pads capable of dealing with vertical landings by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
BEIJING — China is close to volume production of aero engines able to handle higher internal temperatures, increasing performance, durability, or both, very probably for use in combat aircraft. The shift is revealed in market inquiries for large supplies of rhenium, a rare metal that increases the temperature-resistance of turbine blades. Timing of production of the new or upgraded engines is unclear, but the metal is needed starting in 2016. At first, some should be intended for stockpiling.
