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

The Hongdu N-5, (N-5 - Nongye-Feiji-5 - agricultural aircraft-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 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

  • Crew: 2 (pilot and loader/mechanic)
  • Capacity: 1.2 m3 capacity hopper,[8] 960 kg (2,116 lb) powdered or liquid chemicals
  • Length: 10.487 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.418 m (44 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 3.733 m (12 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 26.0 m2 (280 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 6.80
  • Airfoil: LS(1)-0417 Mod
  • Empty weight: 1,328 kg (2,928 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb) (normal max take-off weight)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,450 kg (5,401 lb) (overload)
  • Fuel capacity: 315 L (83.2 US Gal) in wing tanks
  • Powerplant: 1 × Textron Lycoming IO-720-D1B air-cooled flat-8 piston engine, 300 kW (400 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn) (with dispersal equipment)
  • Cruise speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
  • Stall speed: 86 km/h (53 mph, 46 kn) (flaps down)
  • Range: 250 km (160 mi, 130 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 979 km (608 mi, 529 nmi)
  • Endurance: 1.94 hr [8]
  • Service ceiling: 3,750 m (12,300 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.28 m/s (843 ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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 Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine". Hongdu Aviation. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Products:The N5A agriculture & forest aircraft". Hongdu Aviation. Retrieved 23 November 2009.

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.
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