Embraer KC-390 takes maiden flight
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
As per my post #74, it seems Portugal has opened formal negotiations to buy 5 with an option on a 6th.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...mbraer-438122/
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...mbraer-438122/
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KC-390 wraps world tour
But will orders be forthcoming?
Embraer’s KC-390 wrapped its 40-day demonstration tour this week after stops in 18 countries throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.
The Brazilian transport tanker made its flight display debut at the Paris air show this June and went on to a series of flight demonstrations before returning to Brazil. The KC-390 covered 49,537nm during its trip, demonstrating high temperature and high altitude take-offs, low-level navigation and simulated operational conditions, such as paratroopers dropping, a 21 July Embraer release states.
The Brazilian transport tanker made its flight display debut at the Paris air show this June and went on to a series of flight demonstrations before returning to Brazil. The KC-390 covered 49,537nm during its trip, demonstrating high temperature and high altitude take-offs, low-level navigation and simulated operational conditions, such as paratroopers dropping, a 21 July Embraer release states.
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Brown trouser moment for sure - high AOA, ice and then your CoG changes without warning..............................
"As reported by Aero Magazine, the KC-390 registered PT-ZNF was performing critical pre-stall tests, that involved high-AOA (Angle Of Attack) and ice formation on wings. During the maneuver, an equipment used for the tests, detached from its place and rolled to the back of the cargo compartment causing a sudden change in the center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft. As a consequence of the rapid displacement of the CG the pilots lost control of the airlifter, that stalled and started to spin towards the ground. Reportedly, the pilots were able to recover the aircraft as it was only 1,000 feet (about 300 m) above the ground, and landed the KC-390 safely in Gavião Peixoto airfield."
"As reported by Aero Magazine, the KC-390 registered PT-ZNF was performing critical pre-stall tests, that involved high-AOA (Angle Of Attack) and ice formation on wings. During the maneuver, an equipment used for the tests, detached from its place and rolled to the back of the cargo compartment causing a sudden change in the center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft. As a consequence of the rapid displacement of the CG the pilots lost control of the airlifter, that stalled and started to spin towards the ground. Reportedly, the pilots were able to recover the aircraft as it was only 1,000 feet (about 300 m) above the ground, and landed the KC-390 safely in Gavião Peixoto airfield."
with added icing!!!"
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Alert 5 » Details emerged from KC-390 stalling incident on Oct. 12 - Military Aviation News
New details have emerged regarding the stalling incident of the first KC-390 prototype on Oct. 12.
Brazilian trade publication Aero Magazine said test equipment inside the cargo plane had come loose during the stall test – which was simulating icing conditions. ADS-B data showed the aircraft went from 21,000 ft to 3,000 ft in around 3 minutes. Airspeed dropped to 114 kts at one point. The crew managed to recover back safely at Araraquara 14 minutes later.
Embraer said in a statement that some of the “access hatches and aerodynamic fairings must be repaired.” There was no damage to the fuselage.
New details have emerged regarding the stalling incident of the first KC-390 prototype on Oct. 12.
Brazilian trade publication Aero Magazine said test equipment inside the cargo plane had come loose during the stall test – which was simulating icing conditions. ADS-B data showed the aircraft went from 21,000 ft to 3,000 ft in around 3 minutes. Airspeed dropped to 114 kts at one point. The crew managed to recover back safely at Araraquara 14 minutes later.
Embraer said in a statement that some of the “access hatches and aerodynamic fairings must be repaired.” There was no damage to the fuselage.
Thread Starter
FLIGHT TEST: Embraer's KC-390 an airlift jet-setter
A lengthy, comprehensive and interesting article in Flight Global
Snippet regarding AAR performance (in the Sim):-
The article then continues with a description of aircraft performance for real, albeit no AAR.
Snippet regarding AAR performance (in the Sim):-
The advantages offered by the active SS became clear during our simulated air-to-air refuelling (AAR) exercise.
After rendezvousing with another KC-390, I tried to stabilise just behind the refuelling drogue extended from the left-hand Cobham refuelling pod. I could easily remain stable fore and aft, but lateral stability proved challenging. We slid from side to side, almost wingtip to wingtip, as I tried to stabilise behind the basket. After working up a sweat, I backed out of the approach and stabilised about 100m (328ft) behind the tanker.
At that point, Menini selected the flight controls to air refuelling mode. Like many aircraft, the KC-390’s default FCL are not optimum for air refuelling. In AAR mode, pitch and roll axis FCL were tweaked for the fine tracking task of air refuelling. As we again advanced toward the basket I did not perceive any differences in the pitch axis, but it was an almost opposite feeling for lateral tracking.
While I was certainly no “Ace of the Base”, with AAR mode engaged I could approach and make controlled stabs at the basket. After a few solo attempts Menini joined me on the controls. While DUAL INPUT sounded intermittently, I could feel his stick inputs as we closed and made several solid contacts. Having been an instructor pilot, Menini’s ability to feel my control inputs greatly enhanced his ability to teach me how to air refuel the KC-390. With the air refuelling exercise complete, we rounded out the simulator session with visual approaches to normal landings.
After rendezvousing with another KC-390, I tried to stabilise just behind the refuelling drogue extended from the left-hand Cobham refuelling pod. I could easily remain stable fore and aft, but lateral stability proved challenging. We slid from side to side, almost wingtip to wingtip, as I tried to stabilise behind the basket. After working up a sweat, I backed out of the approach and stabilised about 100m (328ft) behind the tanker.
At that point, Menini selected the flight controls to air refuelling mode. Like many aircraft, the KC-390’s default FCL are not optimum for air refuelling. In AAR mode, pitch and roll axis FCL were tweaked for the fine tracking task of air refuelling. As we again advanced toward the basket I did not perceive any differences in the pitch axis, but it was an almost opposite feeling for lateral tracking.
While I was certainly no “Ace of the Base”, with AAR mode engaged I could approach and make controlled stabs at the basket. After a few solo attempts Menini joined me on the controls. While DUAL INPUT sounded intermittently, I could feel his stick inputs as we closed and made several solid contacts. Having been an instructor pilot, Menini’s ability to feel my control inputs greatly enhanced his ability to teach me how to air refuel the KC-390. With the air refuelling exercise complete, we rounded out the simulator session with visual approaches to normal landings.
Brown trouser moment for sure - high AOA, ice and then your CoG changes without warning..............................
"As reported by Aero Magazine, the KC-390 registered PT-ZNF was performing critical pre-stall tests, that involved high-AOA (Angle Of Attack) and ice formation on wings. During the maneuver, an equipment used for the tests, detached from its place and rolled to the back of the cargo compartment causing a sudden change in the center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft. As a consequence of the rapid displacement of the CG the pilots lost control of the airlifter, that stalled and started to spin towards the ground. Reportedly, the pilots were able to recover the aircraft as it was only 1,000 feet (about 300 m) above the ground, and landed the KC-390 safely in Gavião Peixoto airfield."
"As reported by Aero Magazine, the KC-390 registered PT-ZNF was performing critical pre-stall tests, that involved high-AOA (Angle Of Attack) and ice formation on wings. During the maneuver, an equipment used for the tests, detached from its place and rolled to the back of the cargo compartment causing a sudden change in the center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft. As a consequence of the rapid displacement of the CG the pilots lost control of the airlifter, that stalled and started to spin towards the ground. Reportedly, the pilots were able to recover the aircraft as it was only 1,000 feet (about 300 m) above the ground, and landed the KC-390 safely in Gavião Peixoto airfield."
You can fit the most up to date cargo handling system to an aircraft but the odd 'transit chain' fitted for the 'just in case' scenario is always good practice. That and insisting that the aircraft spec has "the ability to fly with a 12 000 lb load jammed on the ramp" written into it just like wot the A400M had.
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I could be completely wrong about this, but somehow I doubt the aircraft entered an actual spin. More likely a deep stall which can be hard to recover from in a T-tail aircraft. That's why the C-17 got fly-by-wire. The original design was not fly-by-wire, but FBW became necessary to provide positive stall protection over the full flight envelope. A stick pusher was not considered sufficient.
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Two aircraft fully engaged in the flight test campaign with more than 1,600 flight hours. Results are confirming the design capabilities and that the KC-390 truly is the new generation multi-mission transport aircraft.
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It's been practiced a long time. I'm not sure if it's ever resulted in the anonymity that they're seeking, though.