China’s first 3D-printed micro turbojet engine has completed its maiden flight, marking a stride forward in the country’s aerospace innovation efforts, according to Global Times.
The minimalist and lightweight micro turbojet engine is developed independently by the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC). The invention took to the skies over Inner Mongolia last week in a test flight that reached an altitude of 4,000 meters. With a thrust rating of 160 kilograms, the engine demonstrated full operational stability and reliability under real-world conditions.
The engine is China’s first-of-its-kind innovation to reach this milestone leveraging the combination of additive manufacturing and multidisciplinary topological optimization. This design approach minimizes structural weight while boosting performance, making it a breakthrough integration in the full-aviation engineering application.
Key technological achievements include a unified design of integrated components, lightweight structures, and enhanced precision performance, all tailored for additive manufacturing. Prior to its airborne debut, the engine underwent a series of rigorous ground tests to assess performance standards and life expectancy.
According to AECC, the successful test lays the groundwork for future advancements in Chinese aviation engines and strengthens the role of additive manufacturing in the sector, reports Global Times. The accomplishment not only highlights China’s growing capability in aerospace engineering but also addresses a domestic technology gap.
