Embraer KC-390 takes maiden flight
 

From Flight Global:-

Later on in the article:-
I wonder how many they need to sell to stand a chance of breaking-even?

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?
 

Which "Big boys"? Lots of Big Air Forces use the C-130 (including USAF and RAF) and the KC-390 has essentially the same payload and slightly greater range than a C-130. For those countries looking for a C-130 replacement or alternative, this could be just the ticket.

Like the C-130 and A400M, the KC-390 is primarily a military transport that has a tanker capability. It is NOT a "tanker".

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

Video of first flight.

It's a bigger aircraft than it looks - those big cockpit windows make it look smaller

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.

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:-

Performance wise, it clearly beats up on the venerable Herc. If it sells for a price under the J model (which seems likely) and Embraer can provide good worldwide support (which seems likely seeing as they've partnered with Boeing to provide support) Lockheed is going to have its hands full selling Js to replace all the A thru H Hercs that are reaching the end of their useful lives. Looks to me like Embraer has a winner on its hands.

KenV;
How can they have a winner on their hands when it doesn't even have eyebrow windows? :}

Personally I think it's bloody ugly, although looks are very subjective. But then, after the Victor K1 you get a bit spoiled in the looks department ;)

? Why the silver tape on all the panel gaps?

:ok:

As long as they don't have to bank the thing for manoeuvring they be all reet.

Good question. Wish I had an answer. But interestingly, while this first aircraft does not include them, eyebrow windows are included in the majority of the drawings released by Embraer. Maybe this is a test aircraft and only production aircraft will include them. Who knows?

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 :):)

Worldwide commercial support and worldwide military support are two very different things. Embraer's military support infrastructure is pretty limited. Boeing can make a big difference there. Also Boeing can provide Performance Based Logistics. Which is to say, militaries pay a fixed fee for X mission capability rate at Y utilization rate. Embraer cannot do that.

yep, and those big cockpit windows add to that

KC-390
 

I think the Eye-brows are included in the windows.. its fly by wire so can be flown up to the envelope limits.

A main strong point of this aircraft is the height of the cabin. It can carry vehicles and helicopters that don't fit the C130. Such as Black Hawk.

http://www.aereo.jor.br/wp-content/u...cs-580x440.jpg

And it can refuel fast jets.

I agree Embraer might have a winner here. Not super advanced but right sized and affordable. Where are Lockheed / Boeing? Apparently they waited too long.

"Which is to say, militaries pay a fixed fee for X mission capability rate at Y utilization rate. Embraer cannot do that."

maybe it will be cheap enough so that they don't need a rent-a-car C-17 type arrangement

I also suspect that many of the likely customers aren't that interested in actual utilisation rates - they just need to have some aircraft around to replace their earlier Hercules variants - actual useage will be low

keesje,

That (Chilean?) graphic is quite dated, it even has CFM56s instead V2500s. I wonder if they'll consider a GTF for the B model like they're doing to their E-Jet civvie range?

I can't see the KC-390 having the same short field and ramp speed performance as a C-130. And yes, it doesn't look quite right with those
oversized cockpit windows.

Does it carry cargo hold bladders when doing AAR? If not, it won't be venturing too far from home.

And any word on unit costs compared to a C-130J? It's hard to get into a J for under $100m these days.

I read an article that stated it can only perform a limited number of unimproved field landings due to fod / airframe ? vulnerability.


So it may be a good design in some ways it won't ever have the rugged utility
of the C130 or A400.

C130 - Agreed and proven.
A400M - remains to be seen.

S-D

RAF owns their C-17s now. It's no longer a lease arrangement.

Maybe, maybe not. This is much is certain: the buyers of the C-17 have ALL bought the Boeing support package, even the ones who only bought two.

Two comments:

1. Only rotorcraft land at an "unimproved field". Fixed wing transports, no matter how rugged, generally land at what USAF calls "semi-prepared" fields, which is to say unpaved runways.

2. Many civil aircraft can routinely operate from unpaved fields, so it does not take any really special design features to be able to operate from unpaved fields.

It does if you want to use the aircraft again.

KC-390 exceeds 100 hours of flight

http://55ca7cd0-f8ac-0132-1185-70568...false_null.jpg
Embraer said its KC-390 military transport prototype has performed more than 100 hours of flight since resumed its testing program.

The tests were resumed in October last year, following a suspension due to government budget constraints two years.

The KC-390 is a twin-engine freighter jet capable of aerial refueling. Embraer expects to receive certification in the second half of 2017.

The Brazilian Air Force plans to buy 28 aircraft of type, with deliveries starting by Embraer from 2018. Argentina, Chile, Colombia and the Czech Republic expressed interest in acquiring the plane.

"We are happy with the aircraft, which has had good availability for the tests, sometimes making two flights a day," said the vice-president of Embraer Paul Gaston Silva. "The airplane is behaving very well and we were able to cover the entire flight envelope.

"We tested the limits of speed, Mach number and altitude, and test all positions of slats, flaps and landing gear. We also made an on-board shutdown, restart with engine and APU. We were able to confirm all of our forecasts for the flight and performance qualities. "

If they could qualify a boom system this could be an efficient way to tank our F-35B's......


:E

The F-35B is intended to use the probe-and-drogue system, so why would the KC-390 need a boom system?

I like the look of this aircraft. Very much "get the job done" look to it. Hope it continues to progress and meet milestones.

Can I please ask what is the purpose of the small drogue it trailed on take-off and landing in the above clip?

It is a trailing static pressure sensor, necessary to calibrate the aircraft's flight instruments.

Commonly seen on the first few test flights of most new designs.

It's a trailing static probe that provides accurate data to the test aircrew. Theory is the cone flies outside the aircraft wake and provides accurate P/S data to allow calibration of the on-aircraft systems. Commonly used on early test flights to ensure the data coming directly from the aircraft system is accurate and not being adversely affected by aircraft attitude.

Edit: Wot he said ^^^^^^^

Really? wow bet thats "really" stealthy then...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BEagle View Post
The F-35B is intended to use the probe-and-drogue system, so why would the KC-390 need a boom system?

glad rag:
"Really? wow bet thats "really" stealthy then...2

The F-35 uses both methods, no?