China has successfully completed the first ignition test of its domestically developed 600-kilogram thrust turbofan engine in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, as was announced by Aero Engine Corporation of China on Friday.
The turbofan engine is the first of its kind developed by China. It delivers a thrust of 600 kilograms and is fully China-owned in terms of intellectual property rights. It is capable of reaching altitudes above 15,000 meters with speeds exceeding 0.8 Mach. Among its features are long endurance, low fuel consumption, and high reliability.
This engine is primarily intended for high-end unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). From its design to the successful ignition, the engine was developed in less than eight months, setting a new record for the research and development of this type of turbofan engine.
According to its plan, the engine will complete the first flight in June 2025, and reach final design approval by 2026. The turbofan engine is expected to significantly boost China’s capabilities in the 1.5- to 4-ton UAV category.
China completes ignition test for 600-kilo thrust turbofan engine
A fearless motorist has been hailed for his heroic actions after he bravely intervened to tackle a truck fire on a highway in north China, repeatedly risking his life as he crawled beneath the burning vehicle multiple times to tackle the flames before firefighters arrived.
The incident unfolded on a stretch of highway near Changzhi City of Shanxi Province, when a fire suddenly erupted around the blown-out left rear tire of a broken down truck.
Seeing the scene, a passing motorist surnamed Du did not hesitate as he pulled in at the roadside and leapt into action. As a member of a civilian rescue team with professional firefighting skills, Du retrieved a fire extinguisher from his vehicle and rushed towards the stricken truck, crawling underneath it to face the flames.
When that initial effort failed to tame the blaze, Du flagged down other drivers and borrowed fire extinguishers from their vehicles. Overall, he made no less than five trips under the truck in his bold fight against the fire, all while doing his best to ensure his own safety.
Thanks to Du's timely efforts, the fire was effectively contained as he prevented it from spreading further until help arrived.
Local firefighters soon reached the scene after receiving emergency calls and immediately went to work to suppress the flames using two water hoses, while Du and others helped maintain order nearby.
After 40 minutes of efforts, the fire was fully extinguished, with no casualties reported, thanks to Du's quick-thinking intervention.
Heroic motorist bravely crawls beneath burning truck to tackle blaze on highway
