The Firecatcher Aircraft F-45 is a single-
turboprop
A turboprop is a Gas turbine, gas turbine engine that drives an aircraft Propeller (aeronautics), propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction drive, reduction gearbox, gas compressor, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propellin ...
aircraft designed for
aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting, also known as waterbombing, is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to Wildfire suppression, combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers ar ...
,
air freight
Air cargo is any property carried or to be carried in an aircraft. Air cargo comprises air freight, air express and airmail.
Aircraft types
Different cargo can be transported by passenger, cargo or combi aircraft:
* Passenger aircraft use th ...
and
commuter airline
A regional airline is a general classification of airline which typically operates scheduled passenger air service, using regional airliner, regional aircraft, between communities lacking sufficient demand or infrastructure to attract Mainline ...
s.
It is financed by UK start-up
Arcus Fire, designed by New Zealand firm
Flight Structures and built by NZ's
Pacific Aerospace.
First flight is planned for 2023 and first delivery for 2024.
Development
The $4.2 million F-45 is targeted to replace previous designs like the
Bombardier CL-215 or the
Grumman S-2AT, a market estimated at 1,000 units over 10 to 15 years.
By August 2020, Flight Structures had built the prototype's fuselage, awaiting wings from Pacific Aerospace, as flight testing was planned for 2023 in
Hamilton, NZ.
Initial certification is planned under the
New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority’s restricted category for a simpler and faster process.
First deliveries were planned from 2024, before cargo and passenger variants.
[
]
Design
Resembling an oversized Cessna Caravan
The Cessna 208 Caravan is a utility aircraft produced by Cessna.
The project was commenced on November 20, 1981, and the prototype first flew on December 9, 1982.
The production model was certified by the FAA in October 1984 and its Cargoma ...
, the Short Take-Off and Landing F-45 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 is a turboprop aircraft engine produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Its design was started in 1958, it first ran in February 1960, first flew on 30 May 1961, entered service in 1964, and has been continuously upd ...
-67F.
The air tanker is designed to carry 4,500 litres (1,190 US gal) of water or fire retardant
A fire retardant is a substance that is used to slow down or stop the spread of fire or reduce its intensity. This is commonly accomplished by chemical reactions that reduce the flammability of fuels or delay their combustion. Fire retardants ...
.
The cargo version will have a large cargo door with a flat-floor cabin that for three LD3 containers and a maximum payload of , targeting an operating cost
Operating costs or operational costs, are the expenses which are related to the operation of a business, or to the operation of a device, component, piece of equipment or facility. They are the cost of resources used by an organization just to mai ...
of 27 cents per 100 lb of cargo per nmi.
The passenger model will have a full stand-up cabin seating 19 people, and will cost $4.5 million like the cargo variant.
It should cruise at speeds up to 190 kn (350 km/h) and have a range of 1,000 nmi (1,852 km) for 45-90 min regional hops.[
]
Specifications
See also
References
External links
*
*
{{Pacific Aerospace aircraft
Firecatcher F-45
2020s New Zealand civil utility aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
High-wing aircraft
Single-engined turboprop aircraft
Proposed aircraft
STOL aircraft
Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear