Bombardier C Series First Flight

[JF Mezei]

There has been some media reporting of the Bombardier C-Series first
flight. It was due in June but kept being postponed.

Last week, the plame got its certificate for test flights, and it was
rumoured first flight would have happened last weekend. it didn't.

On September 17th, Bombardier is holding an event to celebrate first
flight (as in to brag about it to the customers), so first flight
expected prior to that.

Bombardier has set a web site for the live event:

http://cseriesfirstflight.bombardier.com/

http://cseries.com is the main website with some videos already setup.


There is also a picture album (now with only 1 image):

http://instagram.com/bombardier_aero#

And a youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/bombardieraero?feature=watch




First flight is happening out of Mirabel Airport (YMX) near montreal.
(Only one runway maintained, and the tarmac next to the disused
passenger terminal is now a ko-kart race-track).

Bombardier wants good weather. Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 are looking
good, as in Monday 16th.

The plane has completed its high speed taxiing tests. So next step is
first flight.


Airbus and Boeing will be quite curious not only because this is a new
competitor to their lucrative 737/320 business, but more importantly
becayuse the C-Series is first plane with the geared turbofan which they
plan to use for their 737-MAX and 320-NEO planes in a few years.


They have 138 firm orders for the C-Series. (66 CS-100 and 72 for
CS-300) 214 addition options/letters of intent etc.

Porter Airlines is now lobbying to allow it to operate C-Series out of
toronto's Island airport (YTZ, officially called Billy Bishop now). This
airport is limited to turboprops (Q-400s is what Porter has).

Porter argues the C-Series will be as quiet as a Q-400 and should be
allowed, but this also requires runway lenghtening which means
landfilling lake Ontario to enlarge the island. If they get approval,
they will place big order for C-Seroes jets and plan to offer trans-con
service out of island airport.
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[JF Mezei]

First test flight for C-Series has now been set for Monday the 16th of
September 2013.

Time of flight not set yet, expected to be set on sunday.

Press release:
> http://www.bombardier.com/en/media-centre/newsList/details.bombardier-aerospace_20130913_bombardiertargetsseptember16forcse.html

Their twitter feed where time is likely to be announced:

https://twitter.com/Bombardier_Aero

[JF Mezei]

Couple more videos:

C-Series first engine tests when mounted on test aircraft:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmwvjrVwRvE

The "Shimmy" landing gear tests on bumpy runway

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=g2A5OqN8560


Test vehicle assembly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=a5kO0GWAXqc

Also, any comments on the wings which are said to be all composite ? Did
they add a copper film on the surface to deal with lightning ?

While the above video apeears to show old fashion riveting, they do have
a separate video that shows they use robots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lD25lilgGdo
(appears to be a lot of operator control needed)

But it does not seem to be anywhere near as automated as the Airbus one

[JF Mezei]

First flight of the C-Series aircraft happened on Monday Sept 16 at
Mirabel YMX airport.

Found a youtube of the construction of the wing in Belfast (former
Shorts Brothers which Bombardier bought many moons ago).

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aNoA3krV6g&feature=youtu.be


The skin of the wing is done using carbon fabric, not a tape layup
machine. Also, it is impregnated later, contrary to what Boeing and
Airbus do for 787/350.


And it is confirmed in that video that the skin has a copper coating for
lightning protection.