Prototype C295 fire fighter aircraft continues testing
The Airbus Military C295 fire fighting aircraft programme has marked a new milestone with the prototype aircraft completing a second round of tests to provide data on the performance of its water dropping system.
Airbus Military conducted the tests at a special range near Cordoba, Spain. Seven water drops were completed using ground equipment designed to measure the dispersal pattern of the water. The aircraft carried one 3,500 litre tank and the water was gravity-ejected through two dispensers in the belly.
Airbus Military reported that the trials were successfully completed and showed ‘good initial promise’, and confirmed the aircraft’s ‘highly satisfactory’ handling during the drop procedure.
The data will now be examined to enable decisions to be taken on the final configuration of the C295 fire fighter.
The planned configuration will see two 3,500 litre tanks being deployed using a roll-on/roll-off system which would permit the aircraft to be used for transport purposes when not required for fire fighting duties.
Jeronimo Amador, head of market development, light and medium aircraft, Airbus Military, said: ‘We are pleased with the progress of the testing we have performed so far and very encouraged by the results. We will now analyse the data in greater detail and intensify our contacts with potential customers interested in the C295 as a fire fighter. A roll-on, roll-off solution based on this highly flexible aircraft has excellent potential to address the financial challenges faced by authorities responsible for aerial fire fighting worldwide.’
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