China effectively completed the first flight of a locally established ultra-lightweight mini jet engine –-- completely produced using 3D printing technology.This accomplishment marks a breakthrough in sophisticated propulsion design and manufacturing, according to the engines developer.The flight test happened on Tuesday in north Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, reaching a maximum elevation of 4,000 meters.
It adequately demonstrated the functional dependability and stability of the engine under genuine flight conditions, Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) said in a press release on Wednesday.The engine represents Chinas first-ever flight-validated turbojet engine in the 160-kilogram thrust class to be produced totally using multi-disciplinary topology optimization additive manufacturing (3D printing) strategies, said AECC.
This effective inaugural flight lays a more strong technical structure for the research study and advancement of future sophisticated air travel engines in China, it said.The core innovation lies in the revolutionary combination of advanced design approaches with 3D printing abilities, filling a crucial domestic gap in the full-engine engineering application of this specific innovation direction, AECC noted.Prior to the flight, the engine had currently undergone rigorous ground-based confirmation testing to guarantee it satisfied all performance targets and had a validated life span, it said.