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Aviation History
1992
1992 - 0080.PDF
production of the Aerospatiale SA.365 Dau phin at Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing (HAMC) in north-eastern China. The 150- aircraft China TrunkLiner project, if and when it proceeds, will mark another stage in the industry's development: the first time that Chinese factories will produce more than 51% of both the airframes and engines of a western-developed aircraft to be as sembled in China. The first western co-production project involved an engine and started after then- premier Zhou En Lai urged the country to make a major upgrade in its aeronautical technology in 1972. Negotiations with Rolls-Royce started the same year, linked to the acquisition of British-made Tridents for the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and, in December 1975, the two companies signed a trial agreement for lisenced pro duction of the Spey Mk.202 in Xi'an. ASSEMBLY DEAL XAE's chief engineer, He Qian, says: "It was the first time that we had opened the door for aviation production in China to the outside world." The initial agreement cov ered assembly of ten Speys, the first six from kits supplied by Rolls-Royce, and the last four from components made substan tially by XAE. These four engines — redesignated WS9 — were tested successfully in China and the UK in 1979 and 1980. Although XAE will not discuss applications for the WS9, it is believed that it powered original prototypes of the H-7, a twin-engined multi-role strike aircraft developed at neighbouring Xi'an Aircraft Company (XAC). Later versions were powered by an upgraded variant of the Chinese W7. XAE, established in 1958, was primarily a military engine factory. Its first product was the WP8 turbojet (a licensed version of the Soviet Mikulin RD-3M) for the H-6 bomber, itself a Chi nese version of the Tupolev Tu-16 Badger. Later prod ucts included various versions of the WP5 turbojet, which pow ered the H-5 bomber, Soviet-built Mig-15s and Mig-17s and the Chinese version of the Mig-17, the J-5. The Spey project provided the impetus for a major restruc turing of the com pany's engineering capabilities, as it added sophisticated lathes, milling and broaching machines and new testing equipment for the laboratories. XAE sent more than 400 work ers and engineers to the UK to train with Rolls-Royce, and the British company sent representatives out to Xi'an. He Qian re members: "During this time, our company developed a lot through purchases of new advanced equipment and technology and other advanced processes." "By the end of the 1970s," adds Qian, "we reduced the gap between our company and the outside world. The competition between all the companies became stronger, and the economic development very fast." Although XAE invested considerable sums in acquiring western technology and equipment — its inventory now includes some 600 million Yuan ($115 million) worth of equipment, including 2,000 ma chine tools — its development coincided with a steady fall in demand from its prime customer, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. "At that time," Qian says, "our company was in a very difficult situation. We searched for ways to change from military to civil products. That's why we continue to search for civil product orders from everywhere." In addition to its military application, the Spey was used as the basis for the WS9G2 marine gas generator and the WS9G1A gas turbine for industrial ground power units. Other non-aviation products produced in clude the rapier loom, a vegetable oil separator, a pneumatic vibro-pen and vibro- chisel, glass-manufacturing machinery and even a heart pacemaker. XAE has continued to spend 15 million- 20 million Yuan a year in upgrading its equipment to attract foreign subcontracts. It now boasts more than 200 pieces of im ported equipment, including numerically- controlled five-axis milling machines, high speed broaching machines, vertical and Xi'an is the country's largest aerospace manufacturer The production line at Xi'an turns out Y-7s horizontal lathes, boring machines, creep grinders and vacuum electron-beam weld ers. This investment has paid off to some extent, with the help of offset contracts awarded through China National Aero- Technology Import & Export (CATIC). XAE now produces 291 components for 13 foreign engine types, and its customers include Rolls-Royce, General Electric (GE), Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), Allison and Textron Lycoming. LARGEST LINE XAE claims the largest production line for precision forging of engine blades and vanes in Asia, with an annual capacity of 380,000 pieces of different sizes. Other products include turbine and compressor rings and cases and cascade- type thrust-reversers. P&WC has just awarded XAE a 95% quality rating for its turbine discs, while the rating from GE was 91%. Chief engineer Qian says that foreign contracts amounted to 20% of the company's revenue during 1991, worth $4 million, all of which were offsets. This year, the total is expected to rise to $5 million-$6 million, some of which will be direct subcontracts. "Now we have joined the world aviation family through these FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 15 - 21 January, 1992
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