Hongjian
Posts: 834
Joined: 1/2/2015 Status: offline
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[UPDATED DB v440] Hi, I'd like to lobby for a slight DB change concerning Chinese Flankers (J-11 series). From all the recent pictures about new-built Chinese Flankers we could see that they are all equipped with Chinese WS-10, indicating that the PLAAF is finally satisfied with the reliability of this formerly issue plagued turbofan. Recent reports indicated that the service-life and the spool-up issues were resolved for some years, and that the newest batch of WS-10 are just as reliable as the imported Russian AL-31F of the initial batch of Su-27SK/J-11. The imfamous intercept of a US P-8A Poseidon off the coast of Hainan last year, also offered us some indication about the reliability of the current batch of WS-10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHYGM4z0CIY The intercepting plane was a J-11BH in service to the Land-based Naval Aviation (PLANAF) and was equipped with a pair of WS-10s. The J-11BH not only intercepted the P-8A, but actually performed a very dangerous barrel roll over the Poseidon, after multiple encounters as close as 20 feet. These manoeuvers would be impossible with an engine that has reliability, thrust and spool-up lag issues, as suggested by previous reports. And the very fact that the PLANAF authorized a WS-10 equipped Flanker to go out for such a politically sensitive intercept-mission is another indication to the maturing reliability of the engine: Because some years before, we didnt even see WS-10 equipped J-11B Flankers during any PLAAF/PLANAF excercises, let alone on air-patrol off China's coast. Now, even new prototype-Flankers like the J-16 or J-11D fly with WS-10s right off the bat. Unthinkable before, when the WS-10 indeed was a "whack engine" as stated in the DB. Hence, I suggest that the DB is added with a "J-11B (Su-27SK Flanker-Copy), mature block WS-10, 2012", with the agility moved up from 4 to 4.5, like the Russian Su-27 and the imported AL-31F powered Su-27SK/J-11. After all, the J-16 (DB says "Su-30MK2 Copy", but actually it is a development based on the Su-27UBK - not the Su-30; Note different tips of the vertical stabilizers!) already flies with late batch WS-10s and has an Agility rating of 4.5 (dunno if that was an oversight). Also, the newest J-11D (J-11B with shortened radome housing an AESA and with more composites on the airframe) should also lose its "whack engine" tag/agility malus, as it is similiarily flying with late-batch and matured WS-10s. Thank you.
< Message edited by emsoy -- 7/27/2015 9:46:51 PM >
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