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Technology update
SJ30-2 fuselage nearing completion
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Construction of the first SJ30-2 production prototype fuselage is nearing completion at Sino Swearingen's headquarters in San Antonio, TX.
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Sino Swearingen is completing construction on the first SJ30-2 production prototype business jet's fuselage, moving one step closer to FAA certification flight testing. First flight of this aircraft is projected for the third quarter of this year.
The fuselage consists of three assemblies - forward, mid, and aft - which are fabricated by Gamesa Aeronautica in Spain. The forward fuselage was outfitted with hydraulic and electrical fittings in preparation for final assembly.
Upon arrival of the wings, the aircraft will be loaded into a mate tool for final assembly and landing gear installation. Following final assembly, various aircraft systems will be installed.
A total of five testing vehicles are planned for the certification program - three for flight and two ground test articles. Sino Swearingen is planning a one-year flight test program to obtain a Part 23 Commuter Category type certificate from the FAA.
According to Sino Swearingen, certification flight test programs for new business jets typically take longer than a year. The company is projecting that the 350-plus hours of flight testing accomplished during the past two years with a preproduction prototype will reduce the development time normally associated with certification flight test programs and speed the overall process. The preproduction aircraft, which is now in storage in Martinsburg, is a
structurally non-conforming prototype, although it is aerodynamically similar to the conforming prototypes now under construction in San Antonio, TX.
Testing of the prepro-
duction prototype conducted last year included flights at speeds in excess of Mach 0.80 at an altitude of 43,000 ft, low-speed handling and stall tests, and engine handling tests. Low-speed testing examined the aircraft's stall characteristics and Vmc speeds in various configurations.
The SJ30-2 is a seven-passenger business jet designed around the Williams Rolls FJ44-2A fanjet engine. The aircraft has a 2500 nmi NBAA IFR range and will fly at speeds in excess of Mach 0.80. It will be certified for single pilot operation.
Frank Bokulich
Aerospace Engineering April 2000
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