Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) yesterday (September 16) had a successful first flight of its new CS100 airliner. The company issued this statement:
Under perfect weather conditions, Bombardier Aerospace celebrated the successful first flight of its CSeries aircraft, a major milestone in the company’s highly anticipated development program that will provide operators with an all-new family of aircraft specifically designed for the 100- to 149-seat market segment. The maiden flight marks the start of the CSeries aircraft’s flight test program leading up to the first customer delivery, and was also the first flight for Pratt & Whitney’s new Geared Turbofan™ PurePower engine as part of an aircraft certification program.
The historic flight of CSeries flight test vehicle one (FTV1) – a CS100 jetliner bearing Canadian registration markings C-FBCS – was conducted under the command of Captain Charles (Chuck) Ellis, Chief Flight Test Pilot, Bombardier Flight Test Center. Capt. Ellis was assisted by his colleagues, Capt. Andris (Andy) Litavniks and Andreas Hartono in the roles of First Officer and Flight Test Engineer, respectively. The flight departed from Montréal–Mirabel International Airport at approximately 9:55 EDT and returned at approximately 12:25 EDT.
“During its maiden flight, CSeries FTV1 reached an altitude of 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) and an air speed of 230 knots (426 km/h). In-flight tests included flap and landing gear retractions and extensions; in-flight maneuvers that included a simulated landing; and early validation of the flight control system. Additionally, we’re also delighted that many of our guests commented on the impressive and quiet performance during takeoff and landing,” added Mr. Dewar.
The first CSeries aircraft was greeted by more than 3,000 Bombardier employees and Board members, customers, partners and suppliers, upon its return to the company’s Montreal Mirabel, Québec facility, where the final assembly line for the CSeries aircraft program is now under construction.
A total of five CS100 flight test vehicles, all of which are currently in various stages of assembly, will join the flight test program in the coming months.
Top Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. CS100 (BD-500-1A10) C-FBCS (msn 50001) departs from YMX on its successful first flight.
Video:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Rockwell Collins. A view of the CS100 cockpit. Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion® avionics and Primary Flight Control Computer (PFCC) played a key role in the successful first flight of Bombardier’s CSeries commercial aircraft. Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion is featured on 16 aircraft platforms ranging from turboprops, light jets, intercontinental business jets, and commercial aircraft to military tanker and special missions platforms. The scalability of Pro Line Fusion is unmatched in the industry.
Pro Line Fusion for the CSeries aircraft, designed with five 15.1-inch diagonal LCD displays, provides an open architecture that enables extensive situational awareness capabilities, comprehensive integration with aircraft systems such as Rockwell Collins’ MultiScan™ weather radar and optional single or dual Head-up Display (HUD), and a growth roadmap to future air space requirements. Performance-enhancing capabilities that Pro Line Fusion will bring to the CSeries aircraft include RNP AR 0.1 and Category IIIa/b autoland, which couples with Rockwell Collins’ PFCC for Bombardier’s fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system. Rockwell Collins’ PFCC provides an enabling platform to execute complex aircraft control laws, optimize aircraft fuel efficiency, improve passenger safety and enhance overall passenger ride comfort.
