Hongdu N-5

The Hongdu N-5, (N-5 - Nongye-Feiji-5 - agricultural aircraft-5), originally known as the Nanchang N-5, is a Chinese agricultural aircraft. First flown in 1989, and entering into production in 1992, the N-5 is a single-engined low-wing monoplane, and is available in versions powered by a piston engine or a turboprop.

N-5
Role Agricultural aircraft
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Hongdu Aviation Industry Group
First flight 26 December 1989
Introduction 1992

Development and design

In November 1987, the Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company (which was renamed the Hongdu Aviation Industry Group in 1998[1]) began design of a modern, purpose designed agricultural aircraft, with the intention of replacing some of the large numbers of license-built Antonov An-2s in use for that purpose in China. The resulting design, the N-5 first flew on 26 December 1989.[2] It is a single-engined monoplane of conventional layout for an agricultural aircraft with a low-wing situated ahead of the cockpit. It is of all-metal construction, except for a glassfibre hopper for chemicals ahead of the cockpit, which is sealed and pressurised to protect the crew during spraying operations, and has an undercarriage. It is flown by a single pilot, with a tandem jump-seat provided to allow a mechanic to be carried. It is powered by a single Lycoming O-720 eight-cylinder piston engine, and was certified as airworthy in this form by the Civil Aviation Administration of China on 12 August 1992.[3][4] The N-5A was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration for use in the United States on 26 February 2007.[5]

In response to demands from Chinese operators for a more powerful aircraft, studies were made of versions powered both by more powerful piston and turboprop engines,[6] before settling on a Czech Walter M601 turboprop to produce the N-5B, this variant replacing the nosewheel undercarriage of the N-5A with a tailwheel undercarriage. The N-5B first flew on 28 December 2006.[7]

Variants
N-5A
Main production version, with nosewheel undercarriage and 298 kW (400 hp) Lycoming IO-720 piston engine.[3]
N-5B
Version powered by 580 kW (777 hp) Walter M601F turboprop engine. Tailwheel undercarriage.[7]

Specifications (N-5A)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-4[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (pilot and loader/mechanic)
  • Capacity: 1.2 m3 capacity hopper,[8] 960 kg (2,116 lb) powdered or liquid chemicals
  • Length: 10.487 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.418 m (44 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 3.733 m (12 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 26.0 m2 (280 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 6.80
  • Airfoil: LS(1)-0417 Mod
  • Empty weight: 1,328 kg (2,928 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb) (normal max take-off weight)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,450 kg (5,401 lb) (overload)
  • Fuel capacity: 315 L (83.2 US Gal) in wing tanks
  • Powerplant: 1 × Textron Lycoming IO-720-D1B air-cooled flat-8 piston engine, 300 kW (400 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn) (with dispersal equipment)
  • Cruise speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
  • Stall speed: 86 km/h (53 mph, 46 kn) (flaps down)
  • Range: 250 km (160 mi, 130 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 979 km (608 mi, 529 nmi)
  • Endurance: 1.94 hr [8]
  • Service ceiling: 3,750 m (12,300 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.28 m/s (843 ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes
  1. Taylor 1999, p.12.
  2. Lambert 1993, p.53.
  3. Lambert 1993, pp. 53–54.
  4. Taylor 1999, p.404.
  5. "Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A48.CE" Federal Aviation Administration. 26 February 2007.
  6. Flight International 15–21 June 2004, p.29.
  7. "Products:The N5B New Type of Agriculture & Forest Aircraft Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine". Hongdu Aviation. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  8. "Products:The N5A agriculture & forest aircraft". Hongdu Aviation. Retrieved 23 November 2009.

References
  • Lambert, Mark (ed.). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
  • Sobie, Brendan. "Hongdu switches engines to uprate agricultural aircraft". Flight International, 15–21 June 2004. p. 29.
  • Taylor, Michael J.H. (ed.). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.