Canada-based Bombardier has announced that the cockpit and all fuselage sections for its CSeries aircraft’s first flight test vehicle (FTV1) have arrived at the Québec facility, signalling progress in assembly of the test vehicle.
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft CSeries vice president and general manager Robert Dewar was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that the tests of the flight systems in full-scale simulators were progressing well, but taking longer time than expected.
Although the company intends to conduct the first flight testing by the end of 2012, according to the international daily, it is likely to be pushed back to early 2013.
Launch of CSeries single-aisle jets is part of Bombardier’s plan to the end the market domination of Boeing’s 737 and Airbus A320 aeroplanes.
Tests of the avionics, electrical, flight control, fly-by-wire, hydraulic, landing gear, virtual flights with ‘Aircraft 0’, and wiring the CSeries aircraft are progressing well at the facility, the company stated.
In addition, the first wings for the CSeries jets are being connected to the test airframe for the complete airframe static test (CAST) to determine the airframe’s static strength.
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By GlobalData"The CAST, FTV1 and ‘Aircraft 0’ are all key elements in the testing and development of the CSeries aircraft and we are delighted with the progress on each of these three test platforms," said Dewar.
Launched in 2008, the CSeries programme is expected to deliver the first aircraft to an undisclosed customer in late 2013.
Bombardier said it had received 352 orders for the Cseries jet, which will feature 100 to 149 seats and is expected offer 20% fuel efficiency compared with rival jets.
List price for the two models of CSeries, CS100 and CS300 are $58m and $66m respectively.
Image: Bombardier intends to conduct the first flight testing of CSeries aircraft by the end of 2012, but could be put back to early 2013. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.
