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So, after all these years, Beech doesn't know how to certify an airplane?

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Beech didn't get it and who got payed under the table to make sure the other guys did? (www.kansas.com) Mais...

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wktaylor
Wilfred Taylor 2
Embraer has ~100 A-29 Super Tucanos already flying for various 3rd world air forces… many flying actual combat missions. All Beech has are a few dozen AT-6 [trainers flying with under wing store stations for light weapons delivery training, such as practice bombs and rockets, small gun pods, etc].

MIL light-attack/COIN aircraft are a totally different aircraft breed than the trainers many are derived from. Special systems for: tactical missions and defense/countermeasures are added; as-well-as hardened/redundant aircraft systems [electrical, electronic, fuel, hydraulic, weapons delivery etc]. Then there is the element of structures that have to be toughened for useful fatigue life and battle damage durability… essential traits for aircraft that WIL get shot/hit by various air defense ordnance.

External [and maybe internal] carriage for various bombs [dumb and smart], rockets [dumb and smart], cannon and machine guns, chaff-flare, NAPs, external fuel tanks, etc... all of which have to be cleared for various ordnance mixes [different weapons each station] for the entire flight envelop to ensure useful combat operations.

Pilot training, maintenance training and technical documentation must be developed and maintained. Peripheral elements such as maintenance trainers and flight simulators are essential for combat ready crews.

Then there is the development and long-term sustainment of logistics pipelines for spare parts and components [electrical, mechanical, fluids, tires, engines, props, canopies, etc], etc unique to the specific aircraft; and the usual “generic stuff” for aircraft maintenance [fasteners and hardware, raw structural metal, paints, machine and hand tools, etc]… not to mention reliable sources for copious amounts of jet fuel, lubricants, oxygen, and all the various weapons.

Normally MIL aircraft are certified per MIL-HDBK-516 and the JSSG; NOT FAA regulations designed for common civilian aircraft applications/operations. The reasons are pretty harsh. Short cutting procedures can and has caused catastrophes… and useless equipment that is grounded when it is needed MOST by the owning nation.

Sorry to burst Your made-in-America bubble. Beech is many years behind Embraer in these elements [which is very disappointing to me as a long-time DoD MIL-aircraft engineer].
AlexRa
Thanks for your post, Wilfred.

I am aware of the Super Tucano's excellent COIN service record in places such as Colombia, but cannot understand how or why Beech, well known for producing an excellent aircraft, would not have those design and/or certification issues clearly under control while attempting to compete for the contract.

Perhaps difficulties secondary to the bankruptcy reorganization had something to do with the "ready, shoot, aim" perception I have of the management team. Ms. Olive must be turning in her grave.
blucenturion
blucenturion 2
"payed" ??
chalet
chalet 1
In the 1990s Brazil bought Mirage fighter aircraft on a tit-for-that basis as the Frech Armee de l'Air (Air Force) had to buy at the same time several Embraer small turboprop transportation aircraft which they did. It has been rumoured that the present Brazilian administration is pretty wary of buying Rafale fighter aircraft as they cost a monstruosity and might be turning its eyes towards Boeing's F-18E Super Hornets but the U.S. got to acquire a substantial number of Tucano's and other Embraer aircraft. Hard to believe but never say never.
cmsherbert
Suck Pompeo! #Suck! Brazil Forever Aircrafts!
AlexRa
Does anyone know what sort of certification the Beech product would have to comply with? On the face of it the reason provided by the Air Force for choosing the Brazilian product is unbelievable.
siriusloon
siriusloon 2
DoD is an airworthiness authority the same way the FAA is. No aircraft enters U.S. military service without being certified by one or the other. In recent years, it's increasingly common for DoD to require some new aircraft types to have civil certification so it doesn't have to do it. Obviously, types like the F-22 or F-35 have DoD certification, but other types, such as some transports, trainers, and helicopters, can have FAA certification, which is then amended for specific military differences.

Similar arrangements for military/civilian airworthiness certification are in place in other countries such as Canada, the U.K., etc.
AlexRa
Thanks. I would have thought the Beech AT-6 was already certified, but may need certain systems integration write-offs. It just doesn't pass the smell test, but then again, I wasn't there...
cmuncy
Chris Muncy 2
I can see it now, the new Tecano will be late due to certification and Beech will file another lawsuit...

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