Canadair CL-215
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2009) |
| CL-215 | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Firefighting amphibious aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Canadair |
| First flight | 23 October 1967 |
| Introduction | 1969 |
| Status | Active service. |
| Primary users | Canada Croatia Greece Spain |
| Produced | 1969–1990 |
| Number built | 125 |
| Variants | Bombardier 415 |
The Canadair CL-215 (Scooper) was the first model in a series of firefighting flying boat amphibious aircraft built by Canadair and later Bombardier. The CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed to operate well at low speed and in gust-loading circumstances, as are found over forest fires. It is also able to land and take off from short, unpaved airstrips.[citation needed]
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Design and development [edit]
The CL-215 can be traced back to early projects by Canadair, the CL-43 and CL-204. The CL-43 was conceived as a logistics aircraft and based on the design from the Canadian Vickers built 369 Canso (variant of Consolidated PBY Catalina).[1] 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, the CL-204, was a purpose-designed water bomber that evolved into an amphibian flying boat configuration, powered by two 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800 piston engines, shoulder-mounted. The definitive design known as the CL-215 received a program go-ahead in February 1966 with its maiden flight on 23 October 1967.[2] The first delivery was to the French civil protection agency (Sécurité Civile) in June 1969. Production of CL-215s progressed through five series ending in 1990.
Variants [edit]
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 and is currently the only conversion kit installer in the world.[3]
Operators [edit]
Over a period of 21 years beginning in 1969, 125 of these aircraft were built and sold to customers in 11 countries.
- Conair Group, Abbotsford, British Columbia: 4 (CL-215P)
- Government Air Services, Manitoba: 7 CL-215P; 5 will be phased out and replaced with 4 CL-415 beginning in fall 2010.
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: 4 CL-215P; replaced with 4 CL-415
- Buffalo Airways, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories: 6 CL-215P
- Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario: 9 CL-215T
- Bombardier Inc., Montreal, Quebec: 4 CL-215T
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Quebec: 6 (4 CL-215P, 2 CL-215T). They also operate a further 8 CL-415 aircraft.
- Ministry of the Environment, Saskatchewan: 6 CL-215P
- 885. Fire squadron 5 CL-215 and CL-415[citation needed]
- Hellenic Air Force, 355 MTM: 21 CL-215s[5]
- Societa Ricerche Esperienze Meteorologiche (SoREM): five CL-215s Leased abroad[6]
- Two CL-215s, operated by SoREM[6]
- CL-215, tail no. HL2036 / 281 (cn 1096), operated by Korea Business Air Service[citation needed]
- Spanish Air Force, 43 Grupo[7]
- Ministry of Environment (CEGISA): five Ex Spanish Air Force CL-215Ts[8]
- Royal Thai Navy: 1[9] from two CL-215s delivered in 1978 for search and rescue/patrol.[10]
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality: Two CL-215s Operated by SoREM[8]
- Turkish Ministry of Forestry: Two CL-215s operated by SoREM[8]
- Turkish Aeronautical Association: Seven CL-215s[8]
Former operators [edit]
- Sécurité Civile: 15 aircraft operated from June 1969 to 1996, now all replaced with 12 CL-415s.[11]
- CVG Ferrominera Orinoco: Two CL-215s, one crashed on 1989, the other one has been parked ever since [12]
- Yugoslav Air Force: five CL-215s in service with the 676th Fire Fighting Squadron from 1981, until four sold to Greece in 1995.[13]
Accidents and incidents [edit]
CL-215s have been involved in 26 accidents, 21 fatal.[14]
Aircraft on display [edit]
- Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre CL-215 F-ZBBT, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile[15][16]
- Musée de l'Air CL-215 F-ZBAY, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile[15]
- Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum CL-215 F-ZBBH, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile[15]
- Technik Museum Speyer CL-215 F-ZBAR, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile[15]
Specifications (CL-215) [edit]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976-77 [17]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots
- Capacity: 18 passengers (utility version)
- Payload:
- 5,346 litres (1,176 Imp gal) of water or
- 6,123 kg (12,000 lb) of chemicals
- Length: 19.82 m (65 ft 0½ in)
- Wingspan: 28.60 m (93 ft 10 in)
- Height: 8.98 m (29 ft 6 in [18])
- Wing area: 100.3 m² (1,080 ft²)
- Empty weight: 12,065 kg (26,600 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight:
- From water: 17,100 kg (37,700 lb)
- From land: 19,730 kg (43,500 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-83AM 18-cylinder radial engines, 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) each
Performance
- Cruise speed: 291 km/h (157 knots, 181 mph) (max recommended power)
- Stall speed: 123 km/h (66 knots, 76 mph)
- Range: 2,260 km (1,220 nm, 1,405 mi)
- Service ceiling: 14,600 ft (4,450 m)
- Rate of climb: 5 m/s (1,000 ft/min)
See also [edit]
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References [edit]
- Notes
- ^ "Canadair C.L.204." Secretprojects.co.uk. Retrieved: 26 April 2012.
- ^ Taylor 1976, p.17.
- ^ "Aerial Fire Control". Cascade Aerospace. Retrieved: 23 May 2012.
- ^ "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Canadair CL-215". Transport Canada. Retrieved: 23 May 2012.
- ^ Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 39.
- ^ a b Keijsper 2008, p. 42.
- ^ "Canadair CL-215 T (UD.13T)." Ejército del aire. Retrieved: 8 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d Keijsper 2008, p. 43.
- ^ Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 49.
- ^ Air International October 1978, p. 188.
- ^ Keijsper 2008, pp. 40–41.
- ^ "ASN Aircraft accident: Canadair CL-215-1A10, YV-O-INC-2, Puerto Ordaz". Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved: 26 April 2012.
- ^ Keijsper 2008, p. 44.
- ^ "Canadair CL-215 Accident database". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d Gabriel, Olivier. "Canadair CL-215 Bombardier d'eau" (in French). Netpompiers.fr. Retrieved: 23 May 2012.
- ^ "Canadair CL-215". Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, 2012. Retrieved: 23 May 2012.
- ^ Taylor 1976, pp. 17—18.
- ^ (on land)
- Bibliography
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 180, No. 5231, 13–19 December 2011, pp. 26–52. ISSN 0015-3710.
- Keijsper, Gerard. "Water-Bombers Required!" Air Forces Monthly, London: Key Publishing, July 2008.
- Marsaly, Frederic and Samuel Pretat. "Bombardiers d'eau/ Canadair Scoopers." Editions Minimonde76, May 2012. ISBN 9-782954-181806.
- Pickler, Ron and Larry Milberry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1995. ISBN 0-921022-07-7.
- Taylor, John W. R. (editor). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0-354-00538-3.
- "Thai Boats". Air International, Vol. 15, No 4, October 1978, pp. 188–189.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canadair CL-215 |
- Panhellenic Association of Families Lost in Action Aviators
- Snopes.com on the urban legend
- Airliners.net The Canadair CL-215 & 415
- North Carolina Division of Forest Resources Aviation Resources
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