Chapter 570 Il-76 and Y-20

Chapter 570 Il-76 and Y-20

One of the important reasons for the establishment of the Y-20 project is the needs of the Air Force, including early warning aircraft, tankers, and ordinary transport aircraft. These needs all look forward to the emergence of large aircraft.

In China, Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation is a manufacturer of large aircraft. The Y-8 was originally surveyed and mapped by the 603 Institute, and then handed over to Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation for production. Now, after the 603 Institute has developed the Flying Leopard, it is still looking forward to a large aircraft project.

Because there is no project, it has been self-developed. Now, if the Air Force wants to obtain strategic transportation capabilities, it must have a large transport aircraft produced by itself!

At this time, everyone present was excited to hear what Mr. Lin said.

Qin Tao also felt very excited.

Originally, Qin Tao came here to participate in the emergency response after the Falcon early warning aircraft project was stopped, but because he had made preparations in advance, the topic of this meeting was quickly changed.

If you want to completely solve the problem of early warning aircraft, you still have to have your own body platform!

"However, it is not easy for us to independently develop a large aircraft. Whether it is the engine or the aerodynamic layout, or even a simple landing gear, it is blank for us." A leader at the scene spoke up.

"Yes, even if the 603 Institute has done preliminary research, there will be a long way to go." Another leader said.

"Mr. Qin, do you have any ideas?" Mr. Lin looked at Qin Tao.

Qin Tao reacted instantly. Although he was a shipbuilder, his relationship with the Air Force was getting deeper and deeper. On such a major issue of military equipment development, Mr. Lin still hoped to seek his opinion.

"First of all, the biggest problem of the large aircraft project is the engine." Qin Tao also said: "Except for the WS-15, the others in our country are not mature at present. Therefore, if we want to launch a large bypass ratio turbofan engine dedicated to large aircraft at the same time as the large aircraft project, it will definitely not be able to catch up with the use."

The problem of domestic aircraft heart shortage has always existed. The rapid maturity of the J-31A is related to Qin Tao's promotion at the beginning. The entire R-79 engine data was purchased, including the production and processing technology of various blank materials, as well as various equipment. It can be said that it was the same as when industrialization was achieved with the help of the old Russians in the first five-year plan, so the imitation of the WS-15 did not encounter any problems.

But the others are different.

The J-10 and J-11 are looking forward to using the WS-10, but this engine is still a long way from success.

If a large aircraft is launched, it will have to have a special engine. This engine is different from that used in fighter jets. In addition to the difference in afterburner, it is the bypass ratio.

The turbofan engine is equivalent to putting an external bypass on the outside of the turbojet engine, blowing air directly from the back, thereby increasing thrust and reducing fuel consumption. However, fighter engines still have to consider the problem of frontal area, so the bypass ratio generally does not exceed 1.

Transport aircraft are different. The larger the bypass ratio, the more fuel-efficient it is. As for the problem of increased frontal area, it is not considered. Anyway, transport aircraft do not need supersonic speed.

The D-30KP-2 engine on the old Russian Il-76 has a bypass ratio of 2.4, while the turbofan-20 independently developed by China in the future has a bypass ratio of more than 4, and the bypass ratio of the engine of the passenger aircraft will even exceed ten!

There is no technical reserve in China.

"When our turbofan 10 is mature, we can add a large external bypass on the basis of the turbofan 10 core engine to make it the engine of the transport aircraft." An air force leader said.

"That's right, if the progress of the turbofan 10 continues to be delayed, we can also make changes to the core engine of the turbofan-15."

Everyone put forward their opinions.

Although the engines are different, the core engines can be exactly the same, which is what the West does.

"The engine can be developed on our core engine, but it still takes a long time to develop. So, if we want to build a large aircraft, we can first purchase the D-30K engine from the Russians and use it in our transport aircraft. Anyway, our relevant units are already using this engine to improve the H-6." Qin Tao said.

For a long time, the H-6 was the only heavy bomber in China. Because of its high take-off weight, it was even converted into an aerial refueling aircraft for the J-8.

The original turbojet-8 used by this aircraft had high fuel consumption and weak thrust. After the collapse of the Red Empire, relevant units began to study the use of the Russian engine to replace it.

Of course, this improvement still gave the technicians a headache for a long time. After all, the diameter of the planned modified D-30KP2 turbofan engine is 20 cm larger than that of the turbojet-8 engine, and the air intake requirements are also rising. The power cabin needs to be modified, and the air inlet and tail nozzle must be widened, so that the D-30KP2 turbofan engine can be barely installed.

Because the engine is so powerful, the thrust has to be reduced for use on the H-6.

As the official engine for the Il-76, Qin Tao put forward the first opinion: If we want to make large aircraft, we must have engines. Under the premise that our own engines are not mature, we must first purchase engines from the old Russians.

Moreover, since transport aircraft all use pods, it is easier to change engines. In later generations, there was a similar scene: three of the four engines were the same size, but one of them was a lot thicker. , because this one is made in China and the other three are from Lao Maozi.

"That's right, we can't wait. Just like the J-10, we will first use imported engines, wait until the performance of domestically produced engines stabilizes, and then replace them with domestically produced engines." Mr. Lin nodded immediately.

"The next step is to develop the airframe. Lao Maozi's Il-76 is very good. I suggest you refer to the design of the Il-76."

After the Y-20 came out, its appearance was very similar to the Il-76, so much so that it was said to be a copycat, and its names became Loma, Shen Hoy, and Siliushin.

In fact, the reference must have been the reference, but it is still different in many places. The body of the Y-20 is wider, and the tracks do not need to be removed when transporting the tank. The wing shape of the Y-20 is also very different from that of the IL-76.

It is normal to learn from foreign aircraft. After all, the IL-76 is a very mature transport aircraft. Of course we must take its essence and discard its dross! It can be said that even if it is copied, it is still quite good. If it is improved, it will be even better.

Now, if 603 is going to do anything, it definitely needs reference.

"Now, the IL-76s equipped in our army are very precious, and they must not be taken out to be dismantled by the 603 Institute for surveying." Mr. Lin said to Qin Tao: "Mr. Qin, is there any way you can get the IL-76s?" -76 design information?”

Qin Tao realized that this was probably the main purpose of Mr. Lin calling him here!

Whether it is the navy or the air force, they all need large aircraft. Such aircraft cannot be completely relied on outsourcing. No matter how many are purchased from outside, they will not be enough. Only self-developed aircraft can be used.

For a country that has never developed a large aircraft, the best way is to survey and imitate it, and then improve it. However, surveying and imitation requires the provision of a prototype. With the current amount of domestic equipment, providing a prototype is too luxurious. Therefore, the Air Force put the idea on Qin Tao's head, hoping that Qin Tao could help.

After all, this kind of thing has been done more than once.

"Il-76 information mainly exists in two places. The Ilyushin Design Bureau must have a complete set of information, but it is too difficult to get the information from them. It can only be purchased through formal channels. The price It will also be very expensive." Qin Tao said: "The other place is the Chkalov Aircraft Factory."

"Yes, Mr. Qin, we think so too. As long as we operate well, we can package the Il-76 information back from the Chkalov Aircraft Factory." Mr. Lin said, "However, this kind of thing You are the best."

Qin Tao has done similar things many times, and of course he is familiar with it.

Hearing what Mr. Lin said, Qin Tao could only smile and nod: "I can try it."

Dealing with David's breaking of the contract is still secondary. Next, we must independently produce advanced large transport aircraft. This is important.

Qin Tao has been to the Chkalov Aircraft Factory more than once, but he has been in China in the past year or two, so he doesn’t know if the people there have changed. However, since last year, the Chkalov Aircraft Factory has almost It is in a state of shutdown, so the situation there must be very difficult.

"You guys always find things for me to do before the Chinese New Year." Qin Tao complained again.

"This is also for the navy. The navy also needs a large number of transport aircraft. If we can develop our own transport aircraft, then the navy and air force will be equipped with a large number of them." Mr. Lin said with a smile.

"Then try to finish these things before the Spring Festival. I first need to go to the 603 Institute and go there with the experts."

Qin Tao can help with the information, but he is a shipbuilder after all and doesn't know much about aircraft construction, so he must bring experts with him.

A heavy snowfall a few days ago made the entire earth covered with snow. Mr. Chen stood in the snow with a smile to welcome Qin Tao's arrival.

"Mr. Qin, welcome to our 603 Institute for inspection." Mr. Chen extended his hand enthusiastically.

"Mr. Chen, why are you running out at such an old age? Come on, let's go in quickly." Qin Tao just shook his hand politely and hurriedly urged.

"Mr. Qin, you are too disrespectful. I am an old man with a strong body." Mr. Chen was not polite, and his words were casual and kind.

Amid the howling north wind, a group of people walked into the conference room.

"Mr. Qin, at the Zhuhai Air Show last time, your words were inspiring and pointed out the direction for us. Next, we already have the direction to improve the Flying Leopard fighter-bomber. We do not pursue stealth capabilities, just Pursue the improvement of its low-altitude penetration capabilities." Sitting in his seat, Mr. Chen continued to speak.

"Actually, we also need stealth bombers, but we must develop them from scratch, and we must not improve on the existing Flying Leopard fighter-bombers."

Qin Tao's words immediately heated up the atmosphere at the scene. A middle-aged man in his thirties or forties asked: "Mr. Qin, what kind of stealth bomber do we need? Is it like the F-117? 伱The ability of our J-31A fighter to carry bombs is almost the same as this kind of aircraft, right?”

The built-in racks of the J-31A cannot carry too many weapons and equipment, but it is no problem to install two bombs. The F-117 is just at this level.

"Of course not. Although the F-117 has an F prefix, it is actually an out-and-out attack aircraft. What we are talking about now is a bomber." Qin Tao said: "It is a large bomber like the American B-2 stealth bomber."

(A reader said earlier that the B-2 was made public in 1988. Huadong Zhixiong looked for it and really found this news. But I am a little curious. How could the Americans make such a strategic-level weapon public so early? It seems that it was not put into service until 1989. Are the Americans so impatient?)

After the B-2 bomber was made public, it caused a sensation around the world. Although aircraft designers had studied the flying wing layout during World War II, there has never been a finalized and serviced aircraft of this type until modern times. In particular, this bomber also cancelled the vertical tail, so that many aircraft designers felt that this aircraft could not fly at all.

Now, when Qin Tao mentioned this bomber, everyone took a deep breath. This technological leap was too big.

"Of course, this is the direction of future efforts. We don't need this kind of bomber now."

B-2 is a strategic bomber. It can be deployed at a base in its own country and fly around the world, bomb any country and then fly back. At present, the East still has a defensive policy, so there is no need for this kind of big killer.

At this time, hearing Qin Tao say this, everyone nodded. If they were asked to develop this kind of aircraft, it would be too difficult and impossible to conquer it in a short time.

This can be a future development direction, but there is no need to think so much now.

"Now, let's talk about transport aircraft. This is a big guy that the Air Force urgently needs. I plan to go to the Chkalov Aircraft Factory this time. I need someone to accompany me." Qin Tao said, "Who of you is free?"

At present, the 603 Institute is still working tirelessly on the Flying Leopard fighter-bomber project. As for the large transport aircraft of the Il-76 level, there is not much power involved. At this time, hearing Qin Tao's words, Chen Lao said, "Xiao Tang has been doing preliminary research on this project. You can take him with you."

"Yes, Mr. Qin, I am willing to go with you." The middle-aged man who just spoke said.

He is already in his thirties or forties, but in Chen Lao's mouth, he still calls him Xiao Tang, and Qin Tao also feels a little funny.

Tang Changhong, born in 1959, became a college student in the new third batch after the resumption of the college entrance examination in 1978. He studied aerodynamics at Northwestern Polytechnical University. At present, Yang Wei, who is emerging in the 611 Institute, is his roommate on the upper and lower bunks. After that, he entered the 603 Institute as a professional team leader. During this period, he went to the Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to study solid mechanics and obtained a master's degree after graduation. After graduating, he once cooperated with the German MBB company on the MPC-75 project. In 1992, he became the deputy director of the 603 Institute Research Laboratory. Now he has become the director and a close assistant of Mr. Chen. He has also made a lot of efforts in the research and development of the Flying Leopard fighter-bomber.

Mr. Chen trained him as a successor. Next, the Air Force will start a large aircraft project. He hopes that Tang Changhong can take the lead in this project and be the top leader. In this way, Tang Changhong will also become the youngest chief aircraft designer in China.

Tang Changhong is not tall, slightly fat, and has a calm smile on his face.

"I heard that you have done preliminary research. What results have you achieved in the past few years?" Qin Tao asked.

"One of the most important research and development results is the supercritical airfoil." Tang Changhong said: "We are currently conducting preliminary research on this airfoil. After the project is officially launched, we will blow all our preliminary research results into the wind tunnel and make the best choice."

There is a big difference between military transport aircraft and civil airliners. The most important indicator of civil airliners is fuel saving. For civil aviation companies, fuel saving means saving money. The next is the number of crew members. If a two-person crew can be used, a three-person crew is not required, which can save the cost of one crew member.

For military transport aircraft, fuel saving is secondary. After all, the military is not afraid of wasting fuel. Their aircraft must first ensure a large load and a long range, and the second is the flight speed. If you want to increase the speed, you not only need an advanced and powerful engine, but also a suitable wing.

The "supercritical airfoil" was first developed by NASA Langley Research Center in the 1960s. First unveiled in 1974, aircraft designers from all over the world highly praised this wing. The most advanced C-17 transport aircraft in the United States adopted this wing. At the same time, civil airliners such as Boeing and Airbus also began to use this wing, which improved the cruising efficiency and economy of passenger aircraft.

Because of its advanced performance, this supercritical wing is even called two major breakthroughs in aerodynamics in the 20th century together with the swept wing.

Of course, this wing cannot be made based on just a few materials. It must undergo a lot of wind tunnel experiments and needs to be combined with the aircraft. The wing of the Y-20 was also made after hard work.

Its upper wing surface is relatively flat, but the lower wing surface has a concave design, and the trailing edge of the wing has a larger and thinner curvature. The benefits of doing this are to increase the flight speed and reduce the weight of the wing structure.

When the flight speed of ordinary airfoil design is close to the speed of sound, shock waves will be generated on the wings, which will increase the resistance of the aircraft. Not only will the fuselage vibrate, causing safety hazards, but it will also lead to a huge increase in fuel consumption. Not only will the amount of shock waves generated by this unique "supercritical airfoil" be smaller, but it will also be located very far back, which can prevent the shock waves from vibrating the fuselage and achieve the purpose of saving fuel.

Therefore, although the Y-20 is similar to the IL-76 in appearance, it is actually quite different. The airfoils are different, so it can be classified as two different aircraft.

After hearing Tang Changhong's introduction, Qin Tao nodded: "Yes, we have to be in line with the world's advanced level and make aircraft with our own characteristics. Our future domestic early warning aircraft, aerial tankers, electronic warfare aircraft, etc., all rely on It’s on you!”

"We will definitely go all out!" Tang Changhong said excitedly.

Qin Tao also felt a little emotional. He was obviously not from the Air Force, but what he said made the people present very moved. Of course, he knew the reason. After all, no one would miss the mark in any project he passed. .

Now he is helping to contact this large aircraft project. Of course everyone is very excited. This means that the large aircraft project will be launched soon, and there will definitely be a brilliant future in the end.

"Mr. Qin, regarding engines, the suggestions you put forward by the Air Force are very pertinent." Mr. Chen continued to talk about specific technologies: "At present, our country is still lagging behind in terms of engines. Our Flying Leopard fighter-bombers , relies on the mature Spey engine. Now, it is the right choice for our large aircraft to use Lao Maozi’s D-30K engine.”

Hearing what Mr. Chen said, Qin Tao suddenly thought of something: "Mr. Chen, have we completed the full localization of Sibei?"

The localization of SPEI also went through some twists and turns. On December 13, 1975, SPEI's introduction contract was officially signed. The goal at that time was very clear: within 3 years, replicate using British materials, blanks, finished products and accessories. Produce engines of the same quality level as those in the UK; within 5 years, use domestic materials, blanks, finished products and accessories to replicate engines that meet the above requirements.

After entering the 1980s, the first phase of the goal was finally completed, but then it came to an abrupt end.

Since the introduction of Spey, there has been a lot of criticism. This British engine from the 1960s has become outdated. What China needs is a high-thrust engine and so on.

When the Feibao project was established, it was just to solve the problem of the inventory of Spey engines. Now, seeing that the Feibao has been finalized and is about to be equipped with troops, the engine is a big problem again. If you can't imitate it in China, you can only go to the UK to buy second-hand Spei!

"Yes, the localization of Sibei is a big problem." Mr. Chen said with emotion: "As our Flying Leopard began to test flight, the problem of Sibei engine also became prominent, and our brother factory continued to start the process of Sibei engine. The localization plan uses our own domestically produced blanks to manufacture domestically produced turbofan nine engines. Last year, this engine passed a 150-hour endurance test, and the localization rate was 70%. "

Qin Tao couldn't help but shook his head: "This is still far from enough!"

Even if the localization rate is 99%, it may be stuck by the remaining 1%, let alone the current localization rate is only 70%! When he was working on naval gas turbines, Qin Tao had met the technicians of Factory 430 and told them that there was a demand for at least 500 engines of this kind, and localization was a must!

Who would have thought that it is still not effective.

"At present, we have been able to stably produce WS-15 engines." Qin Tao thought of something and continued: "We have reached the world's advanced level in many engine processes, and the remaining 30% of parts are If we can’t figure out the original craftsmanship of the British, can we use our existing craftsmanship to make it?”

"Yes, Mr. Qin, your proposal is very good. We will report it to Factory 430." Mr. Chen fully agreed with Qin Tao's suggestion.

Spey is a technology of the British in the 1960s, and the turbofan-15 is a technology of Lao Maozi in the 1980s. This kind of replacement by our side should not cause any big problems, and it can even make the performance of Spey more advanced.

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