8月22-24日，应商发国际合作部邀请，甘特·开普勒博士（Dr. Günter Kappler）对中航工业商发进行了为期三天的访问，先后与公司领导及工程技术人员进行了会晤和交流。他此行的目的是通过对大涵道比民用涡轮风扇发动机项目的考察，寻找与商发公司可能的合作机会。
开普勒博士是享有国际声誉的航空发动机专家。在四十多年的职业生涯中，他参与并主持过多项航空发动机产品的研发项目，并在多家世界知名的航空企业里担任过重要的工程和管理职务。在宝马罗罗公司任职研发部主任期间，他主持研制的BR700系列发动机大获成功，创造了极为可观的商业价值，他也因此被誉为BR700系列发动机之父。
到访第二天，开普勒博士同商发副总经理张玉金、副总经理兼技术总监李继保、总设计师尹泽勇等高层领导进行了会谈，详细了解了民用航空发动机项目的最新进展和商发公司基于此项目决心达到的技术及战略目标。开普勒博士对商发勇于进取，突破创新的精神表示赞赏，并表达了有意协助推进CJ-1000A项目的强烈愿望。双方在友好气氛中对深入合作达成了一致意见。
访问结束之前，开普勒博士在上海交通大学学术活动中心进行了一场题为 “通往未来的成功革新之路”的演讲，向商发总部和研发中心的70多名领导和员工系统介绍了BR700系列发动机研制开发的历程与经验，并悉心解答了航空发动机研发流程中的具体细节及个人职业规划等方面的提问。他以渊博的知识、缜密的思路、清晰的逻辑、和蔼的态度，深深感染和启发了在场每一位商发人。
As Invited by Department of International Cooperation, ACAE, Dr. Günter Kappler paid a 3-day visit to ACAE headquarters and met with ACAE’s leadership as well as engineering staff. The primary purpose of his trip was to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the progress of ACAE’s high by-pass ratio civil aero engine plan and find out potential cooperation opportunities.
Dr. Günter Kappler is an aero engine expert with high international reputation. Over his 40+-year career in aerospace industry, he has taken charge of many aero engine projects, held both engineering and managerial positions in world famous aviation companies, and accumulated tremendous amount of experience. He was given the name of “Father of the BR700 Engine Family” to recognize his great contribution to BMW-Rolls & Royce as the head of R&D division of the company.
On the second day of his visit, Dr. Kappler was arranged to meet with ACAE’s top management, including vice president Zhang Yujin, vice president and general technical supervisor Li Jibao, engineer in chief Yin Zeyong, and assistant president Huang Jindong. During the meetings, ACAE introduced to Dr. Kappler the current status of its aero engine project and both strategic and technical goals it’s determined to achieve. Dr. Kappler expressed his respect for ACAE’s ambition and his strong willingness to assist ACAE in its CJ-1000A engine project. Two parties reached agreement on further cooperation in a friendly and constructive atmosphere.
Before winding up his visit, Dr. Kappler prepared a lecture “A Successful Innovation Process Extending into the Future” for ACAE’s engineers and managers focusing on BR700 Engine Family. More than 70 people from ACAE headquarters and R&D center attended the event held at the Academic Activity Center in Shanghai Jiaotong University. Questions in reference to aero engine design, test, MRO, certification, as well as career development were raised by audience and all satisfactorily answered by Dr. Kappler, who left everyone a knowledgeable, thoughtful, methodical, and kind impression.
