CRJ-1000 Makes First Flight

Bombardier's long and skinny CRJ-1000 prototype took to the Canadian skies for the first time during its maiden flight yesterday from their production facility at the Mirabel Airport in Montreal, Quebec. During the 25 minute flight, the CRJ-1000 reached an altitude of 30,000 feet and flew at a maximum speed of 260 knots. "We put the gear up, operated the flaps and slats and exercised our new 'fly-by-wire' rudder," says Jacques Thibaudeau, one of the test-flight crew members. Bombardier is saying it handles much like the CRJ-900 so transitioning flight crews to the larger 100-seater should be no problem. After a few more flights, the prototype will be flown to Bombardier's Test Flight Centre at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita where it will be joined next year by the first production aircraft for its flight operations review and certification process. Entry into service is expected in the fourth quarter of 2009. Hopefully, the PointNiner crew will get a chance to see her during the testing phase like we have with the other CRJ stretches as Wichita is just down the road from our base of operations.



Pictures: Bombardier
[Bombardier via Flight Global]

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Sikorsky X2 Makes First Flight

Sikorsky's high speed technology demonstrator, the X2, made its first flight yesterday from the Schweizer Aircraft's rapid prototyping facility in Horseheads, New York. The 30 minute flight was a long awaited milestone as it was originally scheduled to take place two years ago. Designed to cruise at a whopping 250 kts, the X2 will start a test phase with work on hovering with its coaxial main rotors before completing a four phase program wrapping up with high speed flight. The test program is intended to assist Sikorsky with deciding whether or not to develop the X2 for civilian production by 2010. The X2 gets its power from a Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Co. (LHTEC) T800 engine that was originally developed for the now defunct RAH-66 Comanche helicopter. While its design is not completely original, it does feature new fly-by-wire controls and advanced avionics that engineers hope will counter the high vibration issues found in other coaxial rotor designs. Sikorsky could use the X2 as a stepping stone for both civil and military products featuring the coaxial, compound design which already improves over previous designs in the sexiness department.



Images: Sikorsky
[Flight Global]

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FIRST FLIGHT: Piperjet

Here are some photos from the Piperjet's first flight at the Vero Beach Airport. The flight took place this morning at 11 a.m. and lasted about an hour.

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Icon's A5 makes first flight, still very 007-ish

Less than a month after the Icon A5 was officially rolled out, the little amphibious Light Sport Airplane made its first flight last week according to an article from AVweb. The A5, with its sweet electrically folding wing design, launched from a lake in Southern California for the flight. "Everything went as well as an initial test flight possibly could go," said Jon Karkow, lead engineer and test pilot. This little carbon fiber beauty has garnered a lot of interest in its design and should be a crowd favorite at Oshkosh later this month where it will be on display. The $139,000 price tag is a nice incentive as well. Icon is anticipating deliveries in 2010 to all of those lucky pilots who will be making the rest of us green with envy. Who wouldn't want to fly this thing?


(AVweb)

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777 Freighter first flight

The newest member to the Boeing 777 lineup made its inaugural flight yesterday when world's first 777 Freighter took off for the first time at Paine Field in Everett, WA. The 777F, dubbed "the world's most capable twin-engine cargo airplane" by Boeing, completed a three and a half hour test flight with only one minor issue of transmitting telemetry data back to engineers on the ground. Some of the flight tests therefore had to be cut short but Boeing is already working on the issue to get her back up in the air soon. Based on the 777-200LR, the 777F "will be capable of flying 4,885 nautical miles (9,047 km) with a full payload, making it the world's longest-range twin-engine freighter." With 78 firm orders on the books, Boeing is anticipating certification by Q4 with delivery to launch customer Air France shortly thereafter. One of the most interesting features of the 777F is its main deck cargo door is actually located aft of the wing instead of aft of the cockpit like many cargo aircraft. I'm not sure the intent, but it should help with CG while loading I would suspect. When I finally see FedEx colors on one of these, I'll be a happy man.

(Boeing Press Release)

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Cirrus "The Jet" first flight

I meant to post this yesterday when it happened but I never got around to it so here's to some holiday blogging. General Aviation aircraft manufacturer Cirrus took it's personal jet up to the skies for its first flight yesterday morning at the Duluth International Airport in Duluth, MN. The aircraft, known only as "The Jet" made a 45 minute jaunt around Duluth in a test flight where it "performed flawlessly." This test aircraft, dubbed "V1" for verification and validation testing, was equipped with a full airplane ballistics parachute like every other Cirrus aircraft which should provide an ounce of confidence to it's up to 4 passengers and 2 crew. Once certified, Cirrus expects pilot-owners of "The Jet" to be able to cruise this sweet little ride up to 25,000 and 300 knots. Most notable of "The Jet" is its V-tail, which Cirrus claims to be the first application of this design on a major consumer aircraft in 60 years. "The Jet" is also equipped with a single Williams FJ33-4A-19 jet engine set on the aircraft's centerline in a "backpack" position for "smooth handling and excellent engine efficiency." Move over VLJ, the personal jet is set to revolutionize aviation. Of course, Cirrus won't be alone in this market as their competition from Piper and Diamond should keep the GA jet battle lively.

You can check out a video of the first flight HERE.




(via AVweb)
(photos courtesy of Cirrus Design)

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The Superjet 100 Flies

For the first time ever, the Russians have flown their Superjet 100. We first brought you the Superjet news on April 30 and the Russians were true to their word about a first flight in May. The above picture was taken on its approach after the 40 minute test flight. See PointNiner's previous post on this aircraft here. The unfortunate, yet almost expected news coming after the delayed first flight was an official delay in delivery. Don't act so surprised.

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Russians to Fly Superjet 100 in May

You say what is so exciting about the Russians flying a new plane? Well it just happens to be Sukhoi's Superjet 100, the fruit of almost a decade of efforts by Russia's largest warplane maker -- with big hopes to re-enter the global market for commercial aircraft (fat chance). According to Reuters, the Russians will perform the long-delayed test flight in the first half of May.

The Superjet 100 is designed to seat 75-95 passengers. The flight was originally scheduled to take place in late 2007, but was moved to 2008 for unknown communist reasons.

Also, see the comparison photo of the Boeing 787 to the Superjet 100 -- and in my opinion there really is no comparison...but interesting nonetheless.


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Phenom 300 First Flight Video and Pictures

Embraer's Phenom 300 had its first flight yesterday, pretty exciting. Check out the pictures and video of the event below. The first Phenom 300, serial number 99801 is expected to enter service in the second half 2009.

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