The Airplane Is Newfoundland And Labrador's First Bombardier
415
It's possibly the least-well-known of the Bombardier family, but
the company claims it is the world's most efficient firefighting
aircraft. Rrecently, Bombardier Aerospace announced it has
delivered its 201st amphibious aircraft, a Bombardier 415 to the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the first for four
of the amphibs ordered by the government in 2009 to at least
partially replace its aging fleet of CL-215 aircraft.
Delivery Ceremony
The Bombardier 415 aircraft is the latest in a long line of
amphibious aircraft to be designed, manufactured and supported by
Bombardier Aerospace.
Most of the fleet is still in service in firefighting
operations. "Since its launch in 1994, the Bombardier 415 aircraft
has consistently proved itself to be a reliable and effective
firefighting tool. The aircraft's unique operational capabilities
and exceptional performance allow it to operate in the most rugged
and demanding of circumstances, and it is recognized around the
world as the most effective firefighting aircraft available," said
Michel Bourgeois, President, Bombardier Specialized and Amphibious
Aircraft and Military Aviation Training.
File Photo
Since the first Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft delivery in
1994, a total of four Bombardier 415MP and 71 Bombardier 415
aircraft have been delivered to governments and firefighting
agencies in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Ontario,
Québec and Spain.
The Bombardier 415 firefighting aircraft has a normal cruise
speed of 180 knots. In an average mission of six nautical miles
distance from water to fire, it can complete nine drops within an
hour and deliver 14,589 gallons (U.S.) of fire suppressant.
The aircraft is also being offered in a multi-purpose version,
the Bombardier 415MP aircraft, which can be used in a variety of
specialized missions, such as search and rescue, environmental
protection, coastal patrol and transportation. Two Malaysian
Bombardier 415 aircraft and one Greek Bombardier 415 aircraft are
currently equipped with the MP configuration.
File Photo
The CL-215 aircraft the government is replacing received
Transport Canada certification in March 1969 and the first customer
delivery, to France, occurred three months later. One hundred
twenty five aircraft were delivered throughout the years, and the
final delivery, to Greece, occurred in May 1990. Sixty-four CL-215
amphibious piston aircraft remain in service.
The CL-215T aircraft is a CL-215 aircraft that was retrofitted
with PW123AF turboprop engines using kit modifications and added
improvements. Similar to the Bombardier 415 aircraft, it features
enhanced aerial firefighting capabilities, powered flight controls
and a new electrical system. A total of 17 CL-215T firefighter
aircraft were converted and delivered, and 16 are currently in
service. In the Fall of 2004, new conversion kits were offered, and
in February 2006, seven orders were placed by the provinces of
Alberta and Saskatchewan.
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