Posted on 08/13/2014 6:23:04 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Almost three years after it announced plans to produce a low-cost, multirole aircraft for military and civilian duties, South Africa’s Paramount Group has completed the first public flight of its AHRLAC design.
Paramount Group
The advanced high-performance reconnaissance light aircraft’s formal debut was performed at Wonderboom airport in Pretoria on 13 August – just over a month after Paramount unveiled the prototype on 10 July. Flight testing of the type has now reached a total of around 5h, the company says.
According to its developer, AHRLAC “integrates designs from attack helicopters, surveillance platforms and reconnaissance aircraft with the ability to carry surveillance, weapons, radar and electronic warfare systems.”
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66-engined aircraft was launched in September 2011. More than 60 engineers and technicians were involved in the type's development, Paramount says. Some 98% of the prototype’s 6,000 parts were designed and produced locally, it adds, with other participants including Aerosud and Denel.
“AHRLAC will enable developing countries and advanced nations to strengthen and diversify their security infrastructure," says Ivor Ichikowitz, Paramount Group executive chairperson, who lists potential applications as including countering “insurgencies, piracy, poaching and terrorism”. The design also “presents African states with the opportunity to build up their own intelligence, militaries and national police to combat the continent’s insurgents and extremists,” he adds.
The aircraft’s characteristics and performance will be assessed during “rigorous flight testing”, Paramount says, with an advanced prototype to join the programme within months. The prototype will perform trials with sensors and weapons installed.
plans to produce a low-cost
I’ll bet that is relative. PT-6 turbine, if it is under 10 mil I’ll be surprised and that ain’t cheap, excuse me “low-cost”, in anyone’s world.
...and no I haven’t yet read the article.
My dad had a “push-me/pull-you” 337 after many years/hours in an Apache and Twin Commanche - only because he couldn’t find a co-owner for either of those when he moved from one part of the country to another and wanted a twin.
He had every rating possible for years and didn’t need it’s “no critical engine” benefit at all, but the 337 was a fun airplane for sure.
Clearly they took a lot of points from it leaving out the front engine probably for weapons purposes......
Probably a whole lot cheaper, and maybe even more economical even for engine replacement and fuel economy.
A new PC-12 goes for about $5 million, so I’d say you’re in the ballpark for a military aircraft.
Some observations.
* Airfoil looks like a Laminar Section, with the double tadpole trailing edge top and bottom.
* Wonder about airflow into the Prop, love to see the CFD runs on it.
* Notice the Flower Flaps. Having them in front of the Prop inboard of the Tail Pylons is a design option not chosen or modified on many a Pusher given it effects "the go around" with flaps down and more.
* Why no Hoerner Wing Tips, they were tried on the Bronco and work on higher wing loading wings well of which I think this is higher than we might imagine...
* Love to see them Clean-up the Gear Legs and Brake area and leave the Gear Fixed.
The best flying job I had in the USAF was flying the brand new at the time C-12 purchased for six mil with two pt-6 turbines of reduced SHP around 650 IIRC. In the late seventies it was considered the best deal ever at the time.
Out climb much larger aircraft go to thirty one thousand feet and fly pretty fast especially with a tail wind and we flew all over the med and middle east.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.