(Smartace11) wrote in message ...

I just read where Russian Su-30 engines are intended to operate 300 hours
before major overhaul. How do US engines compare? 300 hours seems awfully
short to a layperson like me.

The whole engine doesn't get overhauled, just modules. Each module, ie fan,
compressor, turnine, fan drive turbine, etc has a different interval, usually
based on cycles, ie temperature excursions from cold to hot.

Fighter engines typically stay installed for 300-600 hours on average and come
off for repair not overhaul.

The Soviets/Russians have always made disposable fighter engines from what I
know. Run'em hot, burn'em up, then salvage/overhaul them. Eliminates most of
the logistics tail and cuts way down on traing requirements. Gues you can do
that when you own the world's supply of titanium ore and most of your troops
are illiterate.

The Russians have a different maintenance philosophy. All of their
maintenance is meant to be done in the field. There is no return to
the depo or factory style maintenance at all therefore their field
maintenace looks more frequent compared to western methods which are
infrequent but then have a huge overhaul back at depo or factory
level.

There is a big difference in philosophy and you aren't comparing
apples with apples but rather apples with oranges.

It probably would require some scoreboarding on a spreadsheet.

I can understand the Russian reasoning: the USAs military and
procuremewnt philosophy is based on the assumption that CONUS and its
depos and factories will not come under air attack, and the US
airfields overseas will also be free due to US air superiority. The
Russians don't have that luxury becuase they are or were withing close
distance of lots of hostile nations in Eruope, Near East and Far East.
They have thus have to develop more autonomy andf built to lower
levels of skills and field equipement.

The Russian literacy is probably much better than US literacy.