Maybe a spin recovery parachute for safety, when testing some limits ?
COMAC C919
- Thread starter Deino
- Start date
Highly doubt they'd put the plane anywhere near spin territory. In terms of civil aviation legislation, the aircraft needs to be in the utility category in order for pilots to put the plane in an intentional/induced spin. Certification for transport category aircraft goes up to +2.5Gs, and +2.0 Gs with flaps extended. You'd be pulling well above that limit (around +3-6Gs) recovering from a spin with a plane that heavy... The plane might land but it certainly won't be airworthy after.
They use spin recovery chute for flutter testing on Gulfstream jet. It's not really to test the aircraft in a spin, it's more a way to save the aircraft if it happen. Testing the flight controller to the limit can bring unlucky surprises. Having a backup can save the day !
I can see how it'd work for flutter testing, since the plane would have to fly beyond Vmo/Vne in order to induce flutter, and flutter would damage the aerofoil and fuselage if sustained for long periods of time. The parachute would abruptly slow the plane right back into safe Vno territory.
A spin parachute on the other hand never should be intentionally deployed (perhaps intentionally deployed on the ground to test that the parachute itself works), it only kicks in when the flight envelope protection system on the plane fails to kick in and the parachute is deployed to recover the plane from a spin. The picture rather depicts the parachute being intentionally deployed midair.
“Flow-Viz” paint ? To observe the air flow around the engine pylon ? The Comac 919 is a nice looking plane.
Exclusive: In latest China jab, U.S. drafts list of 89 firms with military ties
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The inclusion of COMAC would come as a surprise to at least one major U.S. supplier, which had determined the company was not a military end user, the industry source said.
A list also would provide European competitors with an opening to promote their manufacturers, by pointing out they do not have to clear such hurdles, even if the U.S. grants the licenses, the industry source said.
General Electric Co and Honeywell International, both supply COMAC and have joint ventures with AVIC.
A GE spokesperson said its global joint ventures operate in compliance with all laws, and that the company has worked to obtain licenses related to military end users.