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Embraer KC-390 takes maiden flight
From Flight Global:-
The KC-390, Embraer’s clean-sheet aerial refueling tanker, flew for the first time on 3 February from an airfield in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The KC-390’s 1h 25min flight consisted of manoeuvres to assess flight characteristics and system tests, including the aircraft’s fly-by-wire controls, Embraer says. "The KC -390 behaved in a docile and predictable manner," test pilot Mazort Louzada says in a statement. "The advanced system of fly- by-wire flight controls and the latest generation avionics facilitate piloting and provide smooth and accurate flight." Embraer chief executive Frederico Fleury Curado says development of the KC-390 is “most likely the greatest technological challenge that the company has faced in its history”. First flight is an important milestone in the company’s flight test campaign, which must be completed in time to begin deliveries of the KC-390 to the Brazilian air force in 2016. The air force intends to buy 28 examples of the aircraft, which it collaborated with Embraer to develop. Another five nations have signed letters of intent to purchase a total 32 additional KC-390s. |
Neat looking bit of kit for smaller Air Forces ... but not completely convinced that it would have the reach for the Big boys.
I await intelligent input from those who know these things. |
It doesn't at first glance look like a tanker, but maybe other roles are possible hence widening its operational capability.
Are those Barbie-Jet windshields? SGC |
Big boys?
Neat looking bit of kit for smaller Air Forces ... but not completely convinced that it would have the reach for the Big boys. |
It doesn't at first glance look like a tanker, but maybe other roles are possible hence widening its operational capability. |
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psbcelyrsu.jpg
Note the hose-reel pods under the outer wings: http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psmqx9wzmb.jpg |
I suspect they'll sell quite a few
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Video of first flight.
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It's a bigger aircraft than it looks - those big cockpit windows make it look smaller
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EMBRAER have sold a lot of RJs in recent years in the face of stiff competition and are doing well with the ERJ195 family against the mighty duopoly of Airbus and Boeing. I think this addition to the family is likely to go down very well, and I imagine it will be somewhat cheaper than a C-130J.
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First flight is an important milestone in the company’s flight test campaign,
Wow! Those are big windows. They make it look 146-sized when it is fully as big as a C-130. I think they'll do very well with it. |
Given its size, payload etc, how do those experienced in such things consider its likely performance vis-a-vie competitors? The impression one gets visually is that it looks underpowered. Presumably the performance envelope has been carefully defined and that there was nobody in the design office from the Belslow team ;)
From Wikipedia:- Payload: 23.6 tons (52,029 lb) Length: 33.91 m (111.3 ft) Wingspan: 35.06 m (115 ft) Height: 10.26 m (33.8 ft) Loaded weight: 74.0 tons (163,142 lb) Max. takeoff weight: 81.0 tons (178,574 lb) Powerplant: 2 × IAE V2500-E5 turbofan, 31,330 pounds-force (139.4 kN)[92] () each Fuel capacity: 37.4 tons (74,800 lb, 33,929 kg)[14] |
Given its size, payload etc, how do those experienced in such things consider its likely performance vis-a-vie competitors? |
KenV;
How can they have a winner on their hands when it doesn't even have eyebrow windows? :} |
Neat looking bit of kit for smaller Air Forces |
? Why the silver tape on all the panel gaps?
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...How can they have a winner on their hands when it doesn't even have eyebrow windows? As long as they don't have to bank the thing for manoeuvring they be all reet. |
KenV; How can they have a winner on their hands when it doesn't even have eyebrow windows? :} |
The aircraft looks... small on photos. Maybe because it bears similarities to Dornier 328JET (photo below) which I'm familiar with?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...300_OE-HTJ.jpg (photo by Juergen Lehle - AlbSpotter Flugzeugbilder Aircraft Photos) The Dornier is 21.3m long whereas the KC-390 is 33.9m, substantially longer. |
Ken
I don't think Embraer need to have Mr B hold their hands on world wide support - they already have facilities world wide for their commercial aircraft Tho' I can see Mr B not being terribly upset that EMB might cut into Lockheed's order book :):) |
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