Hongdu N-5

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




The Hongdu N-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.

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 (Nongye-Feiji 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

Performance


Notes

  1. ↑ Taylor 1999, p.12.
  2. ↑ Lambert 1993, p.53.
  3. 1 2 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. 1 2 "Products:The N5B New Type of Agriculture & Forest Aircraft". Hongdu Aviation. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Products:The N5A agriculture & forest aircraft". Hongdu Aviation. Retrieved 23 November 2009.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

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.

External links

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