03feb2015 photos: 1st flight Embraer KC-390 cargo-tanker

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ht-408635/

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 tanker and transport aircraft was designed and built from scratch by Embraer in cooperation with the Brazilian air force, which has gone all in on the aircraft becoming the backbone of its airlifter fleet.

Company officials are marketing the KC-390 as a successor, if not an upgrade, to the Lockheed C-130.

But the International Aero Engines V2500-powered KC-390 must prove in flight tests that a jet is capable of matching the versatility of the C-130,
among other promises Embraer has made of the aircraft.

It is only the second application of the IAE V2500 engine, aside from the Airbus A-320.

Changes to the engine were made specifically for the KC-390 to "optimize installation" on the airframe. Accordingly, IAE issued a statement congratulating Embraer on the achievement.

Aside from the Brazilian air force, other nations including industrial partners Argentina, the Czech republic and Portugal have committed to order an additional 32 KC-390s.

"The KC-390 will be the backbone of transport aviation for the Brazilian Air Force.
From the Amazon to Antarctica,
the fleet of 28 aircraft
will play a key role in the diversity of projects of the Brazilian state, from scientific research to the maintenance of sovereignty", Brazilian air force commander Lt Brig Gen Nivaldo Luiz Rossato.

The ambitious project included parallel development of fly-by-wire controls that caused headaches for the company and delayed the aircraft’s rollout.

It originally was scheduled to fly before the end of 2014, but the pace of production on the two test aircraft slowed prior to the first aircraft’s official unveiling in late October.

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.

[ehusmann]

Awesome little machine!

And:

It originally was scheduled to fly before the end of 2014, but the pace of production on the two test aircraft slowed prior to the first aircraft’s official unveiling in late October.

I'd say a delay of less than one quarter can hardly be called a delay anymore these days..... Great to see it already in the air. Hopefully also soon in Europe!

Erwin

[Bennie]

Awesome little machine!

Erwin

Am I the only one to see a Mitsubishi C1 look-alike in this awesome little machine???

[CJ van der Ende]

I guess so Ben! The C-1 seems more like a YC-15 to me. This design is more-or-less standard for all these military transports. It is just fantastic that EMBRAER is entering the medium range market with the (K)C-390 and lets hope Europe will be able to see it at the upcoming Paris airshow.

CJ

www.cjvanderende.com

[ehusmann]

You are right Ben, it has the same configuration. But I am totally ok with that. The C-1 looks good too and how often do you see those in Europe

By the way, just noticed Portugal has already ordered 6 of these in 2011 to replace the C-130..... never knew that.... but I am a happy camper now

Erwin

[Bennie]

Regardless of her similarity to other birds, send her (or them! ) over!!!

[Nilson]

+2


Good news for the FAP!

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Stratofreighter]

+2

Good news for the FAP!

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Naaaahhh, four scr@ws are better than two bl@w-jobs...

http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation ... ckers.html

[Nilson]

Not If replaced by fluffy J screws !

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[ehusmann]

There will still be double screws available on Montijo for a long time....

Erwin

[Trabanti]

Zo, die is lelijk zeg! Curious if this will become a profitable product or another prestigious project resulting in huge loss. Just like the AMX which wasn't nicknamed F-32 for nothing..

[Basman]

Zo, die is lelijk zeg!

Do you really think so? I think it looks pretty neat! My first association by the way was not with the C-1 but with the Do328Jet, as if they made a cargo version (or conversion) of that little regional jet. I guess the KC390 is bigger though.

Bas

[ehusmann]

Curious if this will become a profitable product or another prestigious project resulting in huge loss. Just like the AMX which wasn't nicknamed F-32 for nothing..

Remains to be seen of course, but I think it has a chance. The Hercules at the moment does not really have a clear successor. There is no current US product in that size (except the C-130J but I think that one is nearing the end of the line), the A400M is much larger and all other products are much smaller. First look got me thinking it is smaller too, but in reality it isn't. So for all countries that are either not going to the C-130J, or will want to replace those already in a few years time, this KC-390 might be the best fit.
Whether it performs or not is a different question though....

Erwin

[wamovements]

(except the C-130J but I think that one is nearing the end of the line)

At least 300 more are to be built.......

and all other products are much smaller.

That is for a reason, there simply is a small market for small jet-engined aircraft. In the past BAE tried it with a converted BAe146STA which was scrapped for the same reason (and some more reasons).

[ehusmann]

I am not talking about jet transports. I am talking about transports, period. There is nothing else in the class of the Hercules (I am leaving out the Japanese C-1, and the C-2 is larger as I understand it). The BAe146 was nothing, as it could only load through a side cargo door. That really should not even be named in a discussion like this.
I understand 300 more Hercs are to be built, but that does not mean it has a very bright future ahead of it. It is in essence an old design which lasted long, but will be overtaken by newer designs at some point. The KC-390 might be it, if it proofs itself.

Erwin