“We use technology to achieve our objectives, and anything beyond that is wasted,” says John Holding, executive vp of product definition and planning for Bombardier’s new CSeries 90- to 149-seat commercial jet. Pratt & Whitney’s agreement to offer an all-new engine is very important in that regard, he says. “It’s optimized for our particular product,” he says. “If you have a nine-hour mission, specific fuel consumption is the driver. For a 500- to 900-mile mission, you look at total fuel burn including climb and descent.”
The PWC engine offered for the CSeries is a conventional turbofan, not a geared engine like the PW800 Advanced Technology Fan Integration test bed. It will have the highest bypass ratio in its class and will be rated between 16,000 pounds and 23,000 pounds thrust. PWC president Alain Bellemare says that the company is also looking at the engine — which is bigger than the Rolls-Royce BR700 family — as the basis for a new engine for high-end business jets. “We see opportunities there in the long term.”
The CSeries will have fly-by-wire controls because it saves weight (permitting an aft CG and consequently smaller tail), Holding says. The cockpit will have sidestick controls. About 25% of the airframe will be made from composites and 34% from advanced aluminum alloys. The cabin, unveiled in mock-up form here, will offer five-abreast seating with large-airplane 19-inch seats, oversized windows and larger overhead bins than other aircraft in its class. |
