The Canadair CL-215 (Scooper) is the first model in a series of amphibiousflying boats designed and built by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Canadair, and later produced by Bombardier. It is one of only a handful of large amphibious aircraft to have been produced in large numbers during the post-war era, and the first to be developed from the outset as a water bomber.
The CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed in the 1960s. From an early stage, it was developed to perform aerial firefighting operations as a water bomber; to operate well in such a capacity, it can be flown at relatively low speeds and in high gust-loading environments, as are typically found over forest fires. It can also be used for other missions types, including passenger services, freight transport, and air-sea search and rescue operations. On 23 October 1967, the first prototype performed its maiden flight, and the first production aircraft was handed over during June 1969.
While production of the CL-215 was terminated during 1990, this was due to the imminent introduction of an improved variant of the aircraft, which was designated as the CL-415, the manufacture of which commenced during 1993. Furthermore, numerous conversion and improvement programmes have been developed for existing aircraft, such as the CL-215T, a turbine-powered model of the original aircraft which replaces the original Pratt & Whitney R-2800-83AMradial engines with a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turbine engines. Other changes include the addition of new avionics and various structural improvements.
Development
Origins
The origins of the CL-215 can be traced back to two earlier project studies conducted by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Canadair, the CL-43 and CL-204. The CL-43 was conceived as a logistics aircraft and was based on the design of the Canadian Vickers-built 369 Canso (which was itself a variant of the Consolidated PBY Catalina).[citation needed] Arising from an earlier 1960s research study at the company, the original concept was for a twin-engined floatplane transport, that was altered into a "firefighter" as a result of a request by forestry officials in the Quebec Service Aérien (Quebec Government Air Service) for a more effective way of delivering water to forest fires. The 1962 preliminary design, designated as the CL-204, was a purpose-designed water bomber that evolved into an amphibian flying boat configuration, powered by two shoulder-mounted 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800piston engines.[2] Reportedly, in excess of 1,700 hours of wind tunnel and water tank testing was used to help define the aircraft's basic configuration. This design was shaped by a desire for it to be well-suited for performing a range of roles, including air-sea search and rescue, cargo haulage and commercial passenger-carrying, beyond the water bomber mission.[3]
The definitive design, which was designated as the CL-215, was publicly revealed at the 1965 Paris Air Show.[4] Aviation publication Flight International observed that the CL-215 was "one of the very few entirely new large marine aircraft to be put in hand for some 20 years", and that it was the first aircraft to be designed to perform water bombing missions as a primary role.[2] Developing a newer aircraft meant that, unlike its older competitors, the latest techniques to stave off corrosion could be applied, as well as a fail-safe structure, to give the aircraft a lengthy lifespan. Canadair's market research indicated that there were many aging seaplanes for which operators required a modern replacement.[2]
On 1 February 1966, the programme was authorised to proceed.[2] On 23 October 1967, the first prototype performed its maiden flight.[5] By November 1968, Canadair had decided to commit to an initial production batch of 30 aircraft.[4] During June 1969, the first CL-215 was delivered to the French civil protection agency (Sécurité Civile, then known as Protection Civile). The aircraft, which was one of a batch of ten, had been purchased under a £4 million arrangement; by July 1970, the order had been completed, along with a third of a 15 aircraft order from the government of Quebec.[6] Quebec had ordered the type as a replacement for their aging fleet of Canso water bombers; in comparison to the Canso, the CL-215 required a shorter landing distance and was capable of travelling twice as fast.[7]
Further development
Prior to the delivery of the first aircraft, plans had already been mooted for the production of multiple models of the type.[2] While the CL-215A served as the standard water bomber configuration, another model, designated as the CL-215C, had been envisioned to dispense with the design compromises as to better perform the water bomber mission, allowing it be furnished with larger doors on the sides of the fuselage and a revised underfloor hull structure.[8]
Production of the CL-215 progressed through five series. Perhaps the most significant development of the type occurred during the 1980s in the form of the CL-215T, an initiative to replace the original Pratt & Whitney R-2800-83AMradial engines with a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AFturbine engines.[9] Speaking during the new model's development, company officials recognised that market demand for the CL-215T was marginal, and thus not enough to justify developing an all-new aircraft.[9]
Canadian transport conglomerate Bombardier Aerospace (who had acquired Canadair during the 1980s) decided to terminate production of the type during the late 1980s. Although manufacturing did come to an end in 1990, a further improved model, designated as the CL-415, entered production during 1993. Additionally, multiple conversion and refit programmes have been launched over the following decades to renovate and improve existing aircraft, typically focused on improving aspects such as the engines, avionics and structure.[10]
In 2018 Bombardier sold the design documents and intellectual property rights to the CL-215 and CL-415 to Viking Air.[11][12] Viking Air had previously purchased the rights to the Twin Otter, and had subsequently opened a production line to manufacture new Twin Otter airframes. Viking announced plans to open a production line to build the CL-515, an improvement over the CL-415, with more recent avionics, instrumentation to allow it to continue fighting fires at night, and the ability to fill other roles, like maritime surveillance, and maritime search and rescue, when it wasn't fire season.
Viking also produced an upgrade kit, the CL-415EAF, which would allow the owners of remaining CL-215 planes to upgrade their engines and avionics to the same level as new CL-515 planes.[11][12][13][14]
After being upgraded by Viking Air subsidiaries Longview Aviation Services (LAS) and Cascade Aerospace, the CL-415EAF was first flown from Abbotsford, British Columbia on 12 March 2020, to be delivered in April to Bridger Aerospace.[15]
Design
The Canadair CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing general-purpose amphibious aircraft.[4] It features an atypically spacious fuselage for an amphibian, which is designed to accommodate for the operational needs of various roles that the aircraft was developed to perform.[2] The CL-215 can be used as an airborne firefighting platform, in which capacity it is used as a water bomber; it has been claimed to be the first aircraft designed to withstand the severe aerodynamic and hydrodynamic loads imposed by such usage. Beyond the water bomber role, the CL-215 was designed for use in other capacities, such as a search and rescue platform, passenger transport, and freighter; for this purpose, the cabin can be configured in various different ways, including a flexible combi configuration. Under typical operations, these applications would harness the aircraft's ability to land and takeoff from the water, the hull having been designed to enable its use upon the open seas.[4]
The CL-215 was designed to perform well in the aerial firefighter role. The apparatus is designed around previously-proven concepts and careful design.[8] The aircraft's belly houses a pair of 1,400 litres (300 imp gal) water tanks of which large downward-facing doors forms their bottoms; these open to rapidly discharge water over a target area.[8] These doors are normally hydraulically actuated and electrically controlled, but a manual release is present for emergency use only; the tanks can be emptied simultaneously, individually, or in sequence at the pilot's selection. Both tanks are positioned directly upon the aircraft's centre of gravity so that filling or emptying the tanks has minimal impact upon the aircraft's flying characteristics.[8] Water can be rapidly drawn into these water tanks while the aircraft is moving across a body of water's surface via purpose-built rotatable aluminium scoops; if a collision occurs, these scoops have been designed to break away from the aircraft without damaging the fuselage.[2] To prevent the tanks from becoming overfilled, overflow ducts are present at the top of the tanks, which discharge excess water via the sides of the fuselage.[8]
The CL-215 is said to handle well in both the skies and upon the water; significant attention was paid in its design to attaining a high level of manoeuvrability while at low speeds.[2] The hull was laid out with considerable forethought, using the full length of the fuselage as a hull to give the aircraft good handling across many sea states. This hull incorporates a high deadrise angle to reduce impact loads exerted during landings, along with a high step to improve breakaway.[16] Sufficient buoyancy is acquired via multiple watertight bulkheads and a sealed floor attaching directly to the hull frames, two of which serve as attachment points for the wings. Spray compresses are present along the hull's chine, directing spray away from the propellers, engines, and tail unit, while a purpose-built plate diverts spray from the pilot's windshield.[16] The CL-215 is relatively conventional in terms of its aerodynamics; all of the flying controls use traditional surfaces and are manually actuated via mechanical linkages. It is furnished with a high-mounted low-aspect ratio wing, which is equipped with single-slotted flaps.[16] To simplify pilot workload, a constant 15-degree flaps position is used for both low speed and low altitude flight, while the need to adjust the aircraft's trim has been minimised during operations such as water uptake and dropping.[2]
Both the structure and systems on board the aircraft were reportedly designed to ease manufacture and maintenance.[16] The primary structure is compliant with fail-safe design principles, as well as with attention paid to minimising built-in residual stresses and maximising protection against corrosion; as such, conventional alloys are used throughout, while numerous materials, including magnesium, are excluded to reduce reactivity. For this purpose, Canadair paid heed to requirements previously defined by the United States Navy under MIL-F-7179, having judged these criteria to be optimal for their purposes.[16] All aluminium components that made direct contact with water were sulphuricallyanodised and sealed used sodium dichromate; other aluminium elements received a chromate coating before the exterior paint was applied while steel was plated with a cadmium-titanium alloy. Contact between dissimilar metals was avoided wherever reasonable to do so, or otherwise insulated from another by four coats of primer. The exterior paint layer consists of wash primer, followed by a coat of epoxy-polyamide primer, and then a final top coat; some areas may received a special synthetic rubber-based sealant coating to prevent moisture ingress.[16]
The CL-215 is powered by a pair of 2,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-83AMradial engines, which was regarded as a proven and reliable power unit.[4] Flight International describes this choice as being unusual as these engines were no longer in production, a decision that was somewhat justified by the large numbers of reconditioned units that were available during the 1960s; it was believed that a piston engine would be more durable in a maritime environment.[17] In a standard configuration, fuel is housed across 12 tanks within the wing, although additional tanks can be installed within the outer wing.[18]Deicing measures protect the engine's carburettors, which involves drawing heated air from the engine cylinders over them instead of ambient air. The propellers can also be fitted with electrical heating mats; while these are provisioned for, they were not fitted as standard. Each engine drives a pump for the hydraulic system, which is used to actuate the engine cowl and wing flaps, the wheel brakes, water drop doors and pick-up probes, as well as for undercarriage retraction; each engine also drives a 28V DC generator which powers the aircraft's electrical systems.[18]
Operational history
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2019)
Over a period of 21 years beginning in 1969, 125 of these aircraft were built and sold to customers in 11 countries. In 2018, there were reportedly around 165 CL-215 and CL-415s in service across 11 countries.[19]
Variants
CL-215A
Initial version, with Pratt & Whitney R-2800-83AM 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines. Features an internal structure compatible with provisioning water bombing apparatus, which includes a pair of underfloor tanks, belly-mounted doors, and rotating scoops. It was targeted at the water bomber and utility freight market sectors.[8]
CL-215B
Near-identical to the CL-215A, this model featured minor adaptations made to suit the needs of the search and rescue and commercial freight industry customers.[2]
CL-215C
Largely identical to the CL-215A, but lacks any provision for the water bomber mission. As such, it features a revised underfloor structure, larger side-mounted doors and more windows in the main cabin area. A maximum of 36 passenger can be accommodated, without making any provision for baggage.[8]
CL-215T
In 1987, the CL-215T was announced, with improvements in handling brought about by design changes to the wings and empennage, and more powerful Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines. Originally the follow-up CL-215T was to be a simple turboprop-powered development of the CL-215, and Canadair converted two aircraft in 1989 to act as development aircraft. The first of these flew on 8 June 1989. Retrofit kits for CL-215s to the new standard are offered, but Canadair elected not to build new CL-215Ts and instead developed the CL-415.[citation needed]Cascade Aerospace, Canada, offers CL-215 to CL-215T engine retrofits using the Bombardier kit and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF engines.[20]
CL-415EAF
Conversion program offered by Viking Air featuring Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines and EFIS avionics suite.[21] The first of 11 used aircraft purchased to be modified should be delivered to launch customer, Bridger Aerospace, in the first quarter of 2020.[22] They will be strengthened to raise its maximum takeoff weight and have new flight controls, hydraulic and fuel systems.[10]
CL-515
A relaunched production version, furnished with the CL-415EAF configuration.[10] Viking Aviation has announced plans to hire up to 150 employees to perform those conversions through its dedicated subsidiary, and in May 2018 applied for government support for restarting production of the type.[23]
Yugoslav Air Force: five CL-215s delivered (5th was lost in 1984 crash) and entered service with the 676th Fire Fighting Squadron from 1981 to 1992, sold by successor Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro to Greece in 1995.[42] In 2015 ex-Yugoslav CL-215 lost in crash.[43]
Accidents and incidents
CL-215s have been involved in 31 accidents, 20 fatal.[44][45]
^ ab"Viking to deliver six aircraft to the Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Defence". Airmed & Rescue. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019. The CL-515 is the next generation of the CANADAIR CL-415 – an amphibious aircraft with enhanced firefighting capabilities and the flexibility to support a wide range of critical mission operations. The Republic of Indonesia's purchase agreement also includes one CANADAIR CL-415EAF 'Enhanced Aerial Firefighter' aircraft converted from a CANADAIR CL-215 to EAF standard by Longview Aviation Capital's subsidiary, Longview Aviation Services.[permanent dead link]
^ ab"Indonesia to receive world's first CL-515 in seven aircraft deal with Longview". Wings magazine. 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019. Longview Aviation Capital, and its subsidiary Viking Air of North Saanich, BC, reached a deal to provide the Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Defense with seven aerial-firefighting aircraft, including one CL-415EAF and six new-production CL-515 airplanes.
JetLite IATA ICAO Kode panggil S2 JLL LITE JET Didirikan1991 (sebagai Sahara Airlines)Penghubung Bandar Udara Internasional Indira Gandhi (Delhi) Penghubung sekunder Bandar Udara Internasional Chhatrapati Shivaji (Mumbai) Bandar Udara Internasional Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (Kolkata) Kota fokus Bandar Udara Internasional Bengaluru Bandar Udara Internasional Chennai Bandar Udara Internasional Cochin (Kochi) Bandar Udara Internasional Rajiv Gandhi (Hyderabad) Program penumpang setiaJet Privil...
Julung-julung (Ippang, 2023)Rentang fosil: Eocene–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Julung-julung Hemiramphus brasiliensis Klasifikasi ilmiah Kerajaan: Animalia Filum: Chordata Kelas: Actinopterygii Ordo: Beloniformes Subordo: Belonoidei Superfamili: Exocoetoidea Famili: HemiramphidaeGill, 1859 Anaksuku dan Marga Hemiramphinae Gill, 1859 Arrhamphus Chriodorus Euleptorhamphus Hemiramphus Hyporhamphus Melapedalio...
Ayam bumbu rujakAyam bumbu rujakSajianHidangan utamaTempat asalIndonesia[1]DaerahJawa, Seluruh negeriSuhu penyajianHangatBahan utamaayam, rujakSunting kotak info • L • BBantuan penggunaan templat ini Ayam bumbu rujak adalah sebuah makanan khas Jawa yang terbuat dari daging ayam yang masih muda dan dibumbui bumbu merah yang digiling. Bumbu merah tersebut terbuat dari garam, bawang putih, bawang bombai dan cabai merah.[2] Disebut berbumbu rujak karena terdapat bany...
The Military ranks of Slovakia (1939-1945) were the military insignia used by the Slovak Republic's military and the Hlinka Guard. The Slovak Republic was a landlocked country, and therefore did not possess a navy. Military ranks Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of commissioned officers. Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet Ground &Air Force(1939–1940)[1] Generál Plukovník Podplukovník Major Stotník Nadporučík Poruč...
Cet article est une ébauche concernant le Japon et la science. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. RIKENHistoireFondation 1917CadreType Institut de rechercheForme juridique National Research and Development AgencySiège WakōPays JaponOrganisationEffectif 3 572 employés (2018)Site web (ja) www.riken.jpIdentifiantsOpenCorporates jp/1030005007111modifier - modifier le code - modifier ...
Partai Demokrat Liberal自由民主党 atau 自民党 Jiyū-Minshutō atau JimintōSingkatanLDPPresidenFumio KishidaWakil PresidenTarō AsōSekretaris JenderalToshimitsu MotegiKetua di Dewan PenasihatMasakazu SekiguchiDibentuk15 November 1955; 68 tahun lalu (1955-11-15)Digabungkan dariPartai Demokrat JepangPartai LiberalKantor pusat11-23, Nagatachō 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-8910, JepangSurat kabarJiyū Minshu[1]Keanggotaan (2022) 1,136,445[2]IdeologiKonservatisme&...
Contemporary hit radio station in Los Angeles For the Australian radio stations of the same name, see KIIS Network. KIIS-FMLos Angeles, CaliforniaUnited StatesBroadcast areaGreater Los AngelesSouthern CaliforniaFrequency102.7 MHz (HD Radio)RDSKIIS-FM LABranding102.7 KIIS FMProgrammingFormatTop 40 (CHR)AffiliationsPremiere NetworksOwnershipOwneriHeartMedia(iHM Licenses, LLC)Sister stationsKBIGKEIBKFIKLACKOSTKRRLKSRYKVVSKYSRHistoryFirst air dateMarch 7, 1961(63 years ago) (1961-03-07)...
JenderalM M NaravanePVSM AVSM SM VSM ADC Kepala Staf Angkatan Darat ke-27PetahanaMulai menjabat 31 Desember 2019PresidenRam Nath KovindPerdana MenteriNarendra ModiPendahuluBipin RawatPenggantiPetahanaWakil Kepala Staf Angkatan Darat ke-40Masa jabatan1 September 2019 – 31 Desember 2019PresidenRam Nath KovindPerdana MenteriNarendra ModiPendahuluDevraj AnbuPenggantiSatinder Kumar Saini[1] Informasi pribadiLahir22 April 1960 (umur 64)[2]Pune, Ne...
This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: Motherland Daedalus album – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) 2011 studio album by DaedalusMotherlandStudio album by DaedalusReleasedMay 2011Recorded2011, Genoa, ItalyGenreProgressive metalLength63 LabelGalileo RecordsDaedalus ...
Giovanni da Nola, al secolo Giovanni Merliano (Nola, 1488 – Napoli, 1558), è stato uno scultore e architetto italiano che operò nel XVI secolo principalmente a Napoli. Accanto agli artisti spagnoli attivi nei primi del Cinquecento come Diego de Siloé e Bartolomé Ordóñez che contribuirono a creare una vera e propria scuola di scultura rinascimentale, Merliano seppe, con Girolamo Santacroce, fondere gli elementi dell'arte trecentesca e quattrocentesca con gli influssi michelangioleschi ...
Bài viết này cần thêm chú thích nguồn gốc để kiểm chứng thông tin. Mời bạn giúp hoàn thiện bài viết này bằng cách bổ sung chú thích tới các nguồn đáng tin cậy. Các nội dung không có nguồn có thể bị nghi ngờ và xóa bỏ. Ngân Hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam Đối với các định nghĩa khác, xem Ngân hàng (định hướng). Tài chính Thị trường tài chính Thị trường trái phiếu Thị trường hàng hóa Th�...
Pour les articles homonymes, voir Neuenahr. Cet article est une ébauche concernant l’histoire. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. Adolphe de NeuenahrBiographieNaissance 1545Décès 18 octobre 1589ArnhemActivité Homme politiquePère Gumprecht von Neuenahr (d)Mère Amoena von Neuenahr (d)Conjoint Walburge de Neuenahrmodifier - modifier le code - modifier Wikidata Adolphe de Neuenahr, comte de Limb...
فيصل بن فهد بن عبد الله آل سعود معلومات شخصية مكان الميلاد الرياض مواطنة السعودية الأب فهد بن عبد الله بن محمد بن عبد الرحمن آل سعود عائلة آل سعود الحياة العملية المهنة صاحب أعمال اللغة الأم العربية اللغات العربية تعديل مصدري - تعديل يفتقر محتوى ه...
Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place in October 1993, at the beginning of the 1993/1994 session of parliament. Under the rules then in effect, the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party elected 18 members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who were then assigned portfolios by the leader. The Commons members of the PLP separately elected the Chief Whip, and the Labour peers elected the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. In addition, the Lea...
Television channel Rai ScuolaRai Scuola logo used from 2017 onwardsCountryItalyProgrammingLanguage(s)Italian, EnglishPicture format1080i HDTV(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)OwnershipOwnerRAISister channelsRai 1Rai 2Rai 3Rai 4Rai 5Rai GulpRai MovieRai News 24Rai PremiumRai SportRai StoriaRai YoyoRai LadiniaRai SüdtirolRai ItaliaHistoryLaunched21 June 1999; 24 years ago (1999-06-21)Former namesRai Edu Lab (1999–2002)Rai Edu 1 (2002–2009)LinksWebsitewww.raiscuol...
Private college in Middlebury, Vermont, US This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Middlebury College – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR...
Election for the governor of Montana, USA For related races, see 1956 United States gubernatorial elections. 1956 Montana gubernatorial election ← 1952 November 6, 1956 1960 → Turnout83.20%2.50[1] Nominee J. Hugo Aronson Arnold Olsen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 138,878 131,488 Percentage 51.37% 48.63% County resultsAronson: 50–60% 60–70%Olsen: 50...
British etymologist and writer (born 1942) This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.Find sources: Michael Quinion – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2018) (Learn how and when to remov...
Public high school in Iron Mountain, Michigan, United StatesIron Mountain High SchoolThe front of the school in March 2020Address300 West B StreetIron Mountain, MichiganUnited StatesCoordinates45°49′05″N 88°04′13″W / 45.818185°N 88.070411°W / 45.818185; -88.070411InformationTypePublic high schoolMottoThe Place to SucceedEstablished1912 (1912)[2]School districtIron Mountain Public SchoolsPrincipalAmy RyanTeaching staff13.78 (FTE)[1]Enrol...