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Models & Kits
Microsoft Flight Simulator 415 Model
The Canadair 415 is the latest in Canadair's line of multi-role amphibious aircraft beginning with the CL-215 in the 1960s. The Canadair 415 amphibian is a high-wing, turboprop aircraft that evolved from over 25 years of experience with the CL-215 firefighting amphibious aircraft. It features a four-compartment, four-door water tank system that can hold 6137 litres (1621 US gallons) of water/foam mixture and refills its tanks by skimming the surface of any suitable body of water. The Canadair 415, although externally similar to its predecessor, is quite a new machine. It features Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprops, an air-conditioned glass cockpit, and powered flight controls. Compared to the CL-215, it has increased operating weight and speed yielding improved productivity. Aircraft systems have been updated for easier maintainability. In its firefighting configuration, the Canadair 415 is ideal for Initial Attack on forest fires; getting to the fire at the earliest stages and repeatedly dropping large amounts of fire suppressing foam.The Canadair 415 amphibian is also well suited to other missions such as maritime surveillance, coastal patrol, search and rescue, utility transport and resource protection The Canadair 415 production program was launched in October of 1991. The Canadair 415 first flew in December 1993 and the first aircraft was delivered in November 1994.
General
| Cost | Approx. $35 million (Canada) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Passengers | 8 / 30 with tanks removed |
Power Plant
| Engines | 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops |
| Power | 2 x 1775 kW (2380 shp) |
| Propeller | Hamilton Standard 14SF-19 four-blade, diameter 3.97 m |
| Fuel consumption | 840 litres/hour typical |
Dimensions
| Length | 19.82 m |
| Height | 8.98 m |
| Span | 28.61 m |
| Wing area | 100.33 sq m |
| Cabin length | 9.38 m excluding cockpit |
| Cabin width | 2.39 m maximum |
| Cabin height | 1.90 m |
| Cabin volume | 35.6 cu m excluding cockpit |
Weights
| Operating weight empty | 12861 kg |
| Max. payload | 6123 kg |
| Integral water tank capacity | 6160 litres (1622 US gal) |
| Fuel capacity | 5796 litres (1530 US gal) |
| Max. zero-fuel weight | 19051 kg |
| Max. ramp weight | 19958 kg |
| Max. take-off weight | 19890 kg on land, 17169 kg w\o disposable load |
| Max. lift-off weight after water scoop | 20865 kg |
| Max. landing weight | 16783 kg |
Performance
| Max. cruise speed | 376 km/h at 5000 ft/ISA |
| Initial rate of climb | 7 m/s at max. weight |
| Takeoff distance | 844 m or 814 m on water |
| Landing distance | 674 m on land, 664 m on water |
| Max. Range | 2427 km (1310 NM) |
| Water dropped per hour | 54140 l, when 11 km from fire |
| Scooping time to refill tanks | 12 seconds |
Scooping*
|
Stat. Miles |
Kilometers |
Mins/Drop |
Drops/Hour |
|
Litres/hour |
| 0 |
0.0 |
2.0 |
30.0 |
48,600 |
184,100 |
| 1 |
1.6 |
2.7 |
22.3 |
36,072 |
136,649 |
| 2 |
3.2 |
3.4 |
17.7 |
28,679 |
108,643 |
| 3 |
4.8 |
4.1 |
14.7 |
23,801 |
90,163 |
| 4 |
6.4 |
4.8 |
12.6 |
20,341 |
77,057 |
| 5 |
8.0 |
5.5 |
11.0 |
17,759 |
67,277 |
| 6 |
9.7 |
6.2 |
9.7 |
15,759 |
59,759 |
| 7 |
11.3 |
6.9 |
8.7 |
14,164 |
53,657 |
| 8 |
12.9 |
7.6 |
7.9 |
12,862 |
48,725 |
| 9 |
14.5 |
8.3 |
7.3 |
11,779 |
44,623 |
| 10 |
16.1 |
8.9 |
6.7 |
10,865 |
41,158 |
| 11 |
17.7 |
9.6 |
6.2 |
10,082 |
38,193 |
| 12 |
19.3 |
10.3 |
5.8 |
9,404 |
35,626 |
| 13 |
20.9 |
11.0 |
5.4 |
8,812 |
33,383 |
| 14 |
22.5 |
11.7 |
5.1 |
8,290 |
31,405 |
| 15 |
24.1 |
12.4 |
4.8 |
7,862 |
29,648 |
| 16 |
25.7 |
13.1 |
4.6 |
7,412 |
26,665 |
| 17 |
27.4 |
13.8 |
4.3 |
7,039 |
26,665 |
| 18 |
29.0 |
14.5 |
4.1 |
6,702 |
25,388 |
| 19 |
30.6 |
15.2 |
3.9 |
6,396 |
24,228 |
|
20 |
32.2 |
15.9 |
3.8 |
6,116 |
23,169 |
|
25 |
40.2 |
19.4 |
3.1 |
5,019 |
19,014 |
| http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?id=3_0&lang=en&file=/en/3_0/3_3/3_3_5.html |
It takes
only 12 seconds, travelling at 130 km/h (70 knots) to scoop up the 6137-litre
(1621-US gallon) water load. This requires an on-water distance of only
410 metres (1350 feet). The Bombardier 415 can scoop water from sites
as shallow as 2 metres (6.5 feet) and 90 metres (300 feet) wide. This
means that a great number of water sites can be used to reload its tanks.
The aircraft doesn't need a completely straight scooping path. Since it's
still in "flying" mode while scooping, the pilots can maneuver
the Bombardier 415 around river bends or avoid visible obstacles in the
water. As well, if the water site is too small for a full pick-up, the
Bombardier 415 can take a partial load and return to the fire.
Pilot Information
I have recieved several requested from pilots asking how to go about getting to fly the 415. I contacted a pilot from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and I'll post his reply below. Of course, the requirements would vary depending on who you were flying for, but maybe this will give you an idea.
| "As for the 415 - the way to get on it is to start
with MNR on Turbo Beaver for a year or 2 or 3 and then you bid on
it. MNR pays the training. The problem is getting in MNR in the first
place as they require a couple thousand hours, mostly on floats. As for getting the training on you're own - it would cost a fortune and nobody would hire with an endorsement but no time on type. I would also consider going to any one of the other outfits, Airspray, Conair, Buffalo etc - and getting on a different type of bomber as the requirements are lower. " |
That's all I could gather, but if any current or previous pilots would like to share any further information it would be greatly appreciated!
