WesWorld

Mitsubishi Salesman: "We have this truly wonderful aircraft that will surely..."

Government Official: "OH NO YOU DON'T!!!" *beats up Mitsubishi salesman*

Beaten Up Mitsubishi Salesman: "Sorry... nothing in our inventory that will fit the bill."

Unfortunately the Sino-Japan relations are still too low for Japanese firms to make an offer.

Parador scripset...

Quoted

The aircraft should have a crew of 2 men and having room for a capacity between 5 and 20 passengers and a luggage compartment. In order to have an increased security for the flight over the sea, for the purpose of the redundancy, a 2-engine airplane is prefered. Range is considered to be sufficient between 800 and 1500km. Due to the mission profile on unpaved island or mountain airfields, the aircraft must have STOL performance.

Could you please define "STOL performance" in terms of minimum take off distance and/or maximum landing distance? The Yugoslav IK-4 *could* meet the minimum requirements depending upon how you define "STOL performance".

Argentina has no suitable types to offer.

From Belgium, Renard offers the R.45.
It has capability to operate from grass fields but is not a specialist STOL type.

Crew: 3
Capacity: up to 48 passengers or cargo (has rear clamshell loading doors)
Wingspan: 35.05 m (115 ft 0 in)
Length: 24.99 m (82 ft 0 in)
Height: 5.74 m (18 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 111.48 m² (1,200 ft²)
Empty weight: 16,047 kg (35,377 lb)
Loaded weight: 23,814 kg (52,500 lb)
Powerplant: two 2,375hp Minerva Condor II 24-cylinder radials
Maximum speed: 502 km/h (312 mph)
Cruise speed: 418 km/h (260 mph)
Range: 885 km (550 miles)


From the Netherlands, Fokker could offer the F.123 amphibian flyingboat. A licence for licenced-production is not very likely however.
Crew: 3
Capacity: 18 or up to 2270 kg (5,000 lbs) cargo
Wingspan: 20.3 m (66 ft 7 in)
Length: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
Height: 5.72 m (18 ft 9 in)
Empty weight: 4150 kg (9,150 lb)
Max take-off weight: 6500 kg (14,330 lb)
Powerplant: 2× 1,230hp Junkers Motorenbau Jumo 208C 12-cyl diesel engines
Maximum speed: 362 km/h (225 mph)
Cruising speed: 29 km/h (183 mph)
Service ceiling: 8685 m (28,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 6.9 m/s (1,350 ft/min)
Range: 2285 km (1,420 miles)


Australia could offer the DHA-3 Drover. They might be amenable to licence-production but de Havilland would insist on all engines being brought from the UK.
Crew: 1
Capacity: 8-9 passengers
Length: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
Wingspan: 57 ft 0 in (17.39 m)
Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Wing area: 325 sq ft (30.23 m²)
Empty weight: 4,000 lb (1,815 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,500 lb (2,950 kg)
Powerplant: 3 × de Havilland Gipsy Major Mk-10 4-cylinder inverted inline engine, 145 hp (108 kW) each
Maximum speed: 137 knots (157 mph, 253 km/h)
Cruise speed: 108 knots (125 mph, 201.4 km/h)
Range: 890 miles (780 nm, 1450 km)
Rate of climb: 800ft/min (4.06m/s)
Wing loading: 20 lb/ft² (97.59 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.067 hp/lb (109.83 W/kg)

From Britain
de Havilland could offer either the DH.104 Dove or DH.114 Heron. Licence-production would not be possible at this time, but as a large manufacturer I'm sure DH could accommodate any size of order.
DH.104
Crew: two
Capacity: 8 passengers
Length: 39 ft 3 in (11.96 m)
Wingspan: 57 ft 0 in (17.40 m)
Height: 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m)
Wing area: 335 sq ft[60] (31.1 m²)
Empty weight: 6,325 lb (2,869 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 8,950 lb (4,060 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Queen 70 Mk 3 6-cylinder in-line inverted air-cooled engine, 400 bhp (289 kW) each
Maximum speed: 230 mph (200 knots, 370 km/h)
Cruise speed: 187 mph (163 knots, 301 km/h) at 8,000 ft (2,440 m) (econ cruise)
Stall speed: 74 mph (64 knots, 119 km/h)
Range: 880 mi (765 nm, 1,415 km)
Service ceiling: 21,700 ft (6,610 m)
Rate of climb: 1,135 ft/min (5.8 m/s)

DH.114
Crew: two
Capacity: 14 passengers
Length: 48 ft 6 in (14.79 m)
Wingspan: 71 ft 6 in (21.80 m)
Height: 15 ft 7 in (4.75 m)
Wing area: 499 ft² (46.4 m²)
Empty weight: 8,150 lb (3,705 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,500 lb (6,136 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × de Havilland Gipsy Queen 30 Mk.2 6-cylinder inverted inline air-cooled piston engine, 250 hp (186 kW) each
Cruise speed: 159 kn (183 mph, 295 km/h)
Range: 795 nmi (915 mi, 1,473 km)
Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,600 m)
Rate of climb: 1,140 ft/min (5.8 m/s)

Percival could offer the P.50 Prince.
Crew: two
Capacity: 8 passengers
Length: 46 ft (14.02 m)
Wingspan: 64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Empty weight: 9,961 lb (4,400 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,489 lb (6,124 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Alvis Leonides 3 9-cylinder supercharged radial piston engines, 540 hp (410 kw) each
Maximum speed: 186 mph (300 km/h)
Range: 1,012 nm (1,850 km)
Service ceiling: 7,680 m (22,000 ft)

The Chileans would love to offer the Constelación Twin Condor, which - near as I can tell, meets all of the specs, especially the STOL performance. It has a decent service history in South American service. Constelación wanted to offer it for license-production in Australia, but since that doesn't seem to be panning out, China might perhaps be a market...

Quoted

Constelación Twin Condor, Serie-400 or Serie-425 Utility Aircraft
General characteristics
- Crew: 2+
- Passengers: 20
- Length: 52 feet
- Wingspan: 65 feet
- Height: 17.5 feet
- Wing area: 422 ft²
- Empty weight: 6,500 pounds
- Loaded weight: 11,750 pounds
- Powerplant: 2 × 715hp FMA radials (or 650shp Austral Malacara A2 turboprops)

Performance:
- Maximum speed: 180 knots (207 mph / 333 kph)
- Max Range: 900 miles
- Service ceiling: 7,500 meters / 24,600 feet
- Rate of climb: 7.5 ft/s (2.29 m/s)

It took some time, but here are the results of the trials for the Commuter Aircraft.

The specifications were as follows:
- 2 engines (redundancy necessary since flight over sea)
- about 20 passengers - luggage compartment
- Range between 800 and 1500 km
- STOL performance (300-400m start- bzw. landing distance)

Points (1-5) were rewarded for the following characteristics
- Crew
- Capacity
- Cargo
- Engines
- Power
- Range
- STOL performance
- overall impression


Competitors:

Ikarus IK-4
The Yugoslavian IK-4 aircraft isn't considered in the commuter trials, cause the successor of this aircraft, the IK-7 is a far more intersting design and therefore is a demonstrator of this aircraft invited to China for extensive testing.


Renard R.45
A new modern twin engined, twin-boom aircraft with low wings. Capable of transporting up to 48 passengers or cargo (has rear clamshell loading doors). The range with nearly 900km fullfills a little bit more than the minimum. Not really STOL performance, but has capability to operate from grass fields. Another disadvantage is the biggest size of all competitors, and therefore unfortunately too big for the desired application. But different other chinese airlines has shown interest in that aircraft and will get in contact with Renard.

The total points awarded were 22.


Fokker F.123
The aircraft is a flying boat which was designed as a shoulder wing mounted plane with retractable nose wheel. The engines are mounted above and in front of the wing, so they are protected against splashing water. With a capacity of 18 passengers and a range of 2000km it is at the upper limit or even above the requirements. Since this is a flying boat, there is no STOL performance. Daily Air and other airlines shown big interest in that aircraft.

The total points awarded were 29.


DHA-3 Drover
The de Havilland DHA-3 Drover is based on the de Havilland Dove design but used a trimotor configuration. However, the advantage with 3 engines is offset by the disadvantage that the aircraft is flown with only one pilot, which is considered critical, especially for flights in mountains area and oversea flights. The type's shortcomings were becoming apparent during the testphase. These included the aircraft's lack of power, especially in hot weather, and an unfortunate tendency for propellers to fail in-flight. No chinese airline is interested in that aircraft.

The total points awarded were 15.


DH.104 Dove
The de Havilland DH.104 Dove is a low-wing monoplane that is particularly suitable for short distances and therefore unfortunately lies in the lower part of the requirements. While standard passenger versions would carry between eight and eleven passengers its also positioned at the lower part of the requirements. Positive, however, is the STOL-performance which makes the plane again interesting. One chinese airline is interested in that aircraft.

The total points awarded were 26.


DH.114 Heron
The de Havilland DH.114 is an expanded version of the DH.104. The hull has been extended to accommodate additional passengers or cargo. The increased span made the installation of two additional motors possible. It is a rugged, conventional low-wing monoplane with tricycle undercarriage. The aircraft is suitable for routes in isolated and remote areas. One chinese airline ist intersted in that aircraft.

The total points awarded were 26.


P.50 Prince
The aircraft is a twin-engine, high-wing, cantilever monoplane of all-metal stressed-skin construction with a retractable undercarriage (tricycle type). The aircraft is in service at the Chinese Coast Guard and therefore tested adequately. Unfortunately with its capacity of 8 passengers it is only at the requirement minimum. No chinese airline is interested in that aircraft.

The total points awarded were 23.


Constelacion Twin Condor (with radials or with turboprops)
The Condor is a twin-engined, high-winged aircraft designed for use off extremely short or rough airfields, and in all weather conditions. It has a short take-off and landing roll. The aircraft can be equipped with radials or with turboprops. With its capacity of 20 passengers and a range of 1450km it fullfills the requirements at it's best. Numerous chinese airlines are interested in that aircraft.

The total points awarded were 34.



Ranking (considering the awarded points)
Constelacion Twin Condor
Fokker F.123
DH.114 Heron
DH.104 Dove
P.50 Prince
Renard R.45
DHA-3 Drover


Below it's shown, which Chinese airline is interested in the different aircraft. Representatives of the individual airlines will contact the manufacturers immediately.

These chinese airlines are interested in the Twin Condor:
Eastern China Aviation Company
Daily Air
CNAC
Yunnan Airline
EURASIA


These chinese airlines are interested in the Fokker F.123:
EURASIA
Yangtze River Express
Trans Asia Airline
CNAC


These chinese airlines are interested in the DH.114 Heron & DH.104:
CAT


These chinese airlines are interested in the Renard R.45:
Lao Che Air Freight Inc.
CAT
Air China


P.50 Prince & DHA-3 Drover unfortunately won't be considered by any chinese airline.

Quoted from "parador"

These chinese airlines are interested in the Twin Condor:
Eastern China Aviation Company
Daily Air
CNAC
Yunnan Airline
EURASIA

Excellent; the Chilean manufacturer is willing to do business. :)

Fokker, Renard and de Havilland reps will be eagerly awaiting the call to do business.

Quoted

Ikarus IK-4

The Yugoslavian IK-4 aircraft isn't considered in the commuter trials, cause the successor of this aircraft, the IK-7 is a far more intersting design and therefore is a demonstrator of this aircraft invited to China for extensive testing.

The Ikarus firm is disappointed by, but understands the basis of, the Chinese decision. It also hopes that the trials of the IK-7 prove successful and result in its adoption by one or more Chinese airlines.