Embraer KC-390 takes maiden flight
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
When it's in, it's stealthy, when it's out - the tanker RCS makes it irrelevant - might be if the UCAS CBARS gets the go ahead.....
Last edited by ORAC; 23rd Feb 2016 at 17:36. Reason: sp
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Embraer Readies Second KC-390 For Test Effort
In company with the Brazilian air force Super Tucano display team, Embraer’s KC-390 prototype overflew the rollout celebration for the company’s E190-E2 airliner on Feb 25. Credit: Sgt. Barros Johnson, Brazil Air Force
Testing of Embraer’s KC-390 tanker-transport is poised to accelerate to new levels with the introduction of a 7second aircraft and the start of a broad series of mission evaluations designed to finalize the aircraft’s aerodynamic lines.
Despite a 265-day hiatus in flight tests (related to Brazil’s budget issues) following its first flight in February 2015, the prototype has been flying at a high tempo since returning to the air last Oct. 26. “We are getting good reliability in the flight-test campaign. In January we flew more than 50 hr. in one month,” says Alexandre De Pol Fernandes, KC-390 senior program manager. “We have more than 130 flight hours amassed over the first four months. In terms of the aircraft’s high availability we are logging an unprecedented flight rate for a prototype,” he adds.
Since completing an initial airworthiness evaluation on the first sortie last year, Embraer launched immediately into envelope expansion when flights resumed. “We have achieved Mach 0.8, which is a very important milestone for us, and it is cleared to 36,000 ft. We are also evaluating all the aircraft systems, and have done inflight engine start and auxiliary power unit starts. We have also completed flap/slat configuration tests,” says Fernandes.
The latter tests are critical to the KC-390’s slow speed performance for both short-field capability and air-drop missions, adds Fernando Fialho, KC-390 program strategy manager. “This is very different from most other aircraft. We have a continuous double-flap segment with a fixed vane and can put flaps in discrete one-by-one degree positions.”
The flaps can be positioned from 0-40 deg., “which enables a wide variety of military operations such as gravity air drop, in which you need to put the aircraft in a nose-up attitude,” says Fialho. “We need to fly at fixed speed and altitude but at various weights. If you are heavier you need more flap. The ability to have such a large flap deflection also improves takeoff performance,” he adds.
Embraer Readies Second KC-390 For Test Effort | Tanker | Defense content from Aviation Week
In company with the Brazilian air force Super Tucano display team, Embraer’s KC-390 prototype overflew the rollout celebration for the company’s E190-E2 airliner on Feb 25. Credit: Sgt. Barros Johnson, Brazil Air Force
Testing of Embraer’s KC-390 tanker-transport is poised to accelerate to new levels with the introduction of a 7second aircraft and the start of a broad series of mission evaluations designed to finalize the aircraft’s aerodynamic lines.
Despite a 265-day hiatus in flight tests (related to Brazil’s budget issues) following its first flight in February 2015, the prototype has been flying at a high tempo since returning to the air last Oct. 26. “We are getting good reliability in the flight-test campaign. In January we flew more than 50 hr. in one month,” says Alexandre De Pol Fernandes, KC-390 senior program manager. “We have more than 130 flight hours amassed over the first four months. In terms of the aircraft’s high availability we are logging an unprecedented flight rate for a prototype,” he adds.
Since completing an initial airworthiness evaluation on the first sortie last year, Embraer launched immediately into envelope expansion when flights resumed. “We have achieved Mach 0.8, which is a very important milestone for us, and it is cleared to 36,000 ft. We are also evaluating all the aircraft systems, and have done inflight engine start and auxiliary power unit starts. We have also completed flap/slat configuration tests,” says Fernandes.
The latter tests are critical to the KC-390’s slow speed performance for both short-field capability and air-drop missions, adds Fernando Fialho, KC-390 program strategy manager. “This is very different from most other aircraft. We have a continuous double-flap segment with a fixed vane and can put flaps in discrete one-by-one degree positions.”
The flaps can be positioned from 0-40 deg., “which enables a wide variety of military operations such as gravity air drop, in which you need to put the aircraft in a nose-up attitude,” says Fialho. “We need to fly at fixed speed and altitude but at various weights. If you are heavier you need more flap. The ability to have such a large flap deflection also improves takeoff performance,” he adds.
Embraer Readies Second KC-390 For Test Effort | Tanker | Defense content from Aviation Week
Yes, you either have the probe/drogue or boom/receptacle system
Well the Republic F-105 Thunderchief had both>>>
At the time of the design of the F-105, TAC was equipped with hose-and-drogue tankers such as converted KB-50s, whereas boom tankers such as KC-97s and KC-135s had been assigned to SAC. In order that it be capable of being refuelled in midair by the KB-50 fleet, the F-105 was fitted with a retractable midair refuelling probe which swung outward from a slot in the forward fuselage just ahead of the cockpit. Unfortunately, the retirement of the KB-50 tankers left TAC dependent on SAC's boom tankers. Although a hose extension could be attached to the end of the flying boom of the KC-135 so that it could handle probe-and-drogue receiving aircraft, it was thought that it would be beneficial for TAC to have aircraft that were fully compatible with SAC booms.
Consequently, the last few F-105Ds off the production line (production block -31) were given the capability of refuelling from either a flying boom or a hose-drogue type of tanker. This was done by fitting a flush-mounted retractable door-type receptacle in front of the windshield which could accept a flying-boom type of midair-refuelling probe. Some earlier F-105Ds were retrofitted with these receptacles.
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KC-390 Flight Campaign Status
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INafDGrtNWs
At the end of the morning of Monday, March 14, 2016, Embraer announced on his Facebook page photo with the second prototype of its military jet transport KC-390, stating that the aircraft was recently completed.
The second prototype is the example seen to the right, adding that the plane is undergoing ground tests and will join the flight test campaign in the coming weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INafDGrtNWs
At the end of the morning of Monday, March 14, 2016, Embraer announced on his Facebook page photo with the second prototype of its military jet transport KC-390, stating that the aircraft was recently completed.
The second prototype is the example seen to the right, adding that the plane is undergoing ground tests and will join the flight test campaign in the coming weeks.
I have to say it looks rather good..................
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I'm rather hoping that the airdrop/para drop/air-to-air refuelling capabilities of the KC-390 exceed those of the A400M.
As for airdrop and para drop, I'm pretty sure A400 is not yet cleared for either. I think those are part of the "tactical mission" upgrade that still lies in the A400's future. And those missions likely fall even farther in the future for the C-390. Time will tell.
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So ... the consensus seems to be that it looks a bit odd [as did many other new introductions, like the YC-130] but seems pretty convincing overall..
Question 1 ... assuming this turns out to be as good as it seems to date, what is Embraer's production capability? I know they're quite a big outfit, but could they cope with World-wide demand for this little rascal?
Question 2 ... tongue in cheek, I suppose it's too late to pull out of A300M and take this route instead?
Question 1 ... assuming this turns out to be as good as it seems to date, what is Embraer's production capability? I know they're quite a big outfit, but could they cope with World-wide demand for this little rascal?
Question 2 ... tongue in cheek, I suppose it's too late to pull out of A300M and take this route instead?
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KC-390 - will be in Farnborough
The cargo aircraft multirole KC-390 will cross the Atlantic and take part in the Farnborough International Airshow.
Nelson Düring
Chief Editor Defesanet
A news that is a real surprise was announced exclusively to Defesanet the CEO of Embraer Defense & Security Jackson Schneider at FIDAE 2016.
The multi-mission KC-390 tanker currently under development that reached more than 150 flight hours mark, will be on static display in the traditional Farnborough International Airshow, to be held in England in the period 11 to 17 July 2016.
This is a well calculated move by the EMBRAER marketing. Even with the budget constraints that affect the development schedule delaying it in 18 months for the final certification of the aircraft.
In the middle of last year the EMBRAER Defense & Security has taken the courageous decision to continue with the development program and the construction of the other prototypes, one more for flight tests and two for static testing, with its own resources.
Even after the Brazilian Air Force has managed to pay off overdue installments, another effect happened. Restated by the dollar appreciation led the debt be parked in the same amount that is R $ 1, 4 Billion.
The risk of crossing the Atlantic is minimized by the reliability and maturity that the complex KC-390 flight systems are achieving and demonstrating in more than 150 flight hours since the EMBRAER Defense & Security facility in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil.
Today are about 28 aircraft contracted for the FAB and 32 more for the countries participating in the development consortium (Argentina, Chile, Portugal, Czech Rep.).
The direction by CEO Jackson Schneider and Director of Freighter Program Multimission KC-390.mostram is confident and relaxed about the evolution and the schedule of the goals will be achieved.
The cargo aircraft multirole KC-390 will cross the Atlantic and take part in the Farnborough International Airshow.
Nelson Düring
Chief Editor Defesanet
A news that is a real surprise was announced exclusively to Defesanet the CEO of Embraer Defense & Security Jackson Schneider at FIDAE 2016.
The multi-mission KC-390 tanker currently under development that reached more than 150 flight hours mark, will be on static display in the traditional Farnborough International Airshow, to be held in England in the period 11 to 17 July 2016.
This is a well calculated move by the EMBRAER marketing. Even with the budget constraints that affect the development schedule delaying it in 18 months for the final certification of the aircraft.
In the middle of last year the EMBRAER Defense & Security has taken the courageous decision to continue with the development program and the construction of the other prototypes, one more for flight tests and two for static testing, with its own resources.
Even after the Brazilian Air Force has managed to pay off overdue installments, another effect happened. Restated by the dollar appreciation led the debt be parked in the same amount that is R $ 1, 4 Billion.
The risk of crossing the Atlantic is minimized by the reliability and maturity that the complex KC-390 flight systems are achieving and demonstrating in more than 150 flight hours since the EMBRAER Defense & Security facility in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil.
Today are about 28 aircraft contracted for the FAB and 32 more for the countries participating in the development consortium (Argentina, Chile, Portugal, Czech Rep.).
The direction by CEO Jackson Schneider and Director of Freighter Program Multimission KC-390.mostram is confident and relaxed about the evolution and the schedule of the goals will be achieved.
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The KC-390 has achieved a new milestone in the flight test campaign today with the in flight operation of the cargo door, rear ramp and paratrooper's door.
Prototype 002 flew with the 001.
Prototype 002 flew with the 001.