From scratch, lasted three years
In 2019 and 2020, forest fires broke out in Liangshan, Sichuan for two consecutive years, causing heavy casualties. "In the end there is no plan? Is the professional fire-fighting force enough? Is there a big airplane for fire fighting? Is there a firebreak, isolation zone?" These four solemn and profound interrogation always knocked everyone's heart.
In 2020, the relevant leaders of the Forest Fire Protection Bureau led a team to the Aviation Industry Research, after conducting a number of feasibility studies, and ultimately determined that the "Xinzhou" 60 aircraft to become a forest fire-fighting aircraft research and development platform, clear construction of the "Xinzhou" 60 fire-fighting aircraft as our aviation The first time I saw this, I had to go back to the office to get the information I needed.
▲2023 China Emergency Response Show on the field of the "new boat" 60 fire extinguisher model
"The first thing you need to do is to get a good deal of money to pay for the services. The first thing you need to do is to get your hands on a new airplane, and then you'll be able to get it to work.
In order to speed up the pace of development, Aviation Industry Xifei Civil Aircraft conducted a comprehensive assessment of the project, based on a full grasp of the decision to "project and development" at the same time to promote, and in December 2020 set up a forest fire-fighting aircraft pre-development team to fight fire projects in the Aviation Industry Xifei Civil Aircraft formally launched from this point onwards.
Xinzhou 60 fire-fighting aircraft project site
In January of the following year, the marketing and sales center, engineering and technology center, and customer service center of Aviation Industry Xifei Civil Aircraft set up a team to demonstrate the market demand for fire extinguishing planes, and in less than two months, they completed related research and visits to greatly clarify the use of fire extinguishing planes, functional requirements and technical indicators.
At the same time, the engineering team completed the key technology capture and internal research projects, supplier management, airworthiness department also joined the project team, the "Xinzhou" 60 fire extinguishing aircraft has become the main focus of the research and production of civil aircraft of Aviation Industry Xifei.
▲New Boat 60 fire extinguisher project site
In November 2022, the detailed design review of the Xinzhou 60 fire extinguisher was completed, and the first aircraft was assembled at the same time. All the members of the project team are aware of the time constraints, and they have cautiously and resolutely pushed forward the process of this "high-quality project" to complete the annual target of 2022 ahead of schedule.
First flight of 1404 Xinzhou 60 firefighting airplane
In 2023, the development of Xinzhou 60 fire extinguisher entered a critical stage - on July 26, Xinzhou 60 fire extinguisher successfully completed the first platform test flight in Yanliang, Xi'an, and on October 9-15, Xinzhou 60 fire extinguisher successfully completed the first platform test flight in Yanliang, Xi'an. On October 9~15, the "new boat" 60 fire extinguisher completed the first flight of the mission system and a number of flight tests in Qingyang, Gansu Province.
▲Miao Zhimin at the project site
"The entire production cycle of the aircraft takes close to two years, which is equivalent to less than one year, we have completed the scientific research process from the front-end design to the 50 percent of the water load flight verification," said Miao Zhimin. Zhimin Miao said.
"We are very confident in our airplane."
October 26, the night before the aviation industry emergency rescue comprehensive combat drills, in the face of the "new boat" 60 fire extinguisher will usher in the actual combat water "debut", Miao Zhimin said firmly in an interview: "We are very confident in their own aircraft! The airplane is very confident!
In fact, in the decision to participate in the aviation industry emergency rescue comprehensive combat drills, "Xinzhou" 60 fire extinguishers have not even thrown water, in the end can not as promised to complete the combat drills task? All the members of the project gave a decisive and firm answer - "certainly can!"
▲The team of Xinzhou 60 fire extinguisher at Hubei Jingmen Zhanghe Airport
Before the official start of the combat exercise, all the participating models will have to assemble at Jingmen Zhanghe Airport in advance to conduct three previews, "so on October 16th, we have to cut off the scientific research and test flight work directly transferred to Jingmen. From the first flight of the mission system on October 9 to the 15th, we only had seven days to carry out flight tests." Miao Zhimin recalled.
In this way, in the case of tight time and heavy task, the crew of Xinzhou 60 fire extinguisher made full use of this week's valuable time to successfully complete the mission system flight test from low water load to three tons of water load, from mid-air to ultra-low altitude.
▲New Boat 60 firefighting aircraft carries out test flight in Qingyang
"The newest addition to the list is the newest addition to the list, the newest addition to the list, the newest addition to the list. After successfully completing the test flight, the third flight altitude was adjusted to within 100 meters. In this way, the whole process saves a lot of sorties and greatly shortens the test flight cycle." "The newest addition to the list is the newest addition to the list, the newest addition to the list, the newest addition to the list, the newest addition to the list.
▲New Boat 60 fire extinguisher carries out test flight in Qingyang
The test pilots accelerated the progress of the test flight, contains the design team's precise considerations. When designing the cockpit, the team had two core objectives in mind: to ensure flight safety and to ensure mission fulfillment," said Miao. To this end, we pursued to minimize the crew load, targeted design of the 'one-button' water delet function - after arriving at the destination, the crew only need to press a button to complete the water delet task, without the need to open and close the hatch operation. "
▲"Xinzhou "60 fire extinguisher in the aviation industry emergency rescue comprehensive combat drill site
On October 27th, the aviation industry emergency rescue comprehensive practical exercise was successfully held. At 9:19 a.m., the "Xinzhou" 60 fire extinguishing aircraft in the exercise site at a speed of about 230 km / h, 50 meters of flight altitude, in 2 seconds, 3 tons of water all cast, forming a length of about 150 meters, a width of about 14 meters of the water belt, the successful completion of the first combat water test, for the whole team's confidence and conviction to write the best Note.
Is the "sharp knife" power is also the "pentagonal warrior".
"The day there is a fire on the same day to extinguish, the day does not extinguish three days to extinguish, three days do not extinguish half a month to extinguish, half a month does not extinguish by the sky to extinguish." This old saying on the forest fire fighting front and the principle of "fight early, fight small, fight" to fight forest fires require "Xinzhou" 60 fire extinguishers as China's aviation firefighting "sharp knife". As a result, it is necessary to show strong maneuvering ability and strong fire-fighting effect to realize the forward deployment, so that forest fires can be found and extinguished as early as possible.
▲"Xinzhou "60 fire extinguisher project site
But the development of the new boat 60 fire extinguishing machine is not only about this. "At present, the aircraft mainly has five major functions, namely water throwing fire, fire prevention and monitoring, communication command, emergency personnel transportation, emergency supplies transportation." Miao Zhimin introduced.
The new boat "60" fire extinguishing aircraft can do not remove the cabin holding water and fire extinguishing media tank, through the tank before and after the installation of seats, it will be converted into emergency personnel transportation type; through the installation of bulk cargo blocking net, converted into emergency material transportation type, to meet the needs of different emergency rescue mission scenarios.
▲"Xinzhou "60 fire extinguisher project site
"Previously, the development of 'Xinzhou' 60 rain machine, remote sensing machine, etc., for the development of fire extinguishing machine provides a full range of experience, technology, talent, services and other reserves, so we have the courage to say that as long as the customer has a demand for the function of the aircraft, we can realize!"
▲ 7 types of 8 aviation emergency rescue equipment independently developed by the aviation industry assembled Zhanghe Airport
The development of China's aviation emergency rescue equipment is characterized by "systematization", the overall planning is "high and low with the combination of near and far, the layout is reasonable, the function of synthesis". "Looking to the future, 'Xinzhou' 60 aircraft platform, aviation industry, the entire line of civil aircraft, will vigorously enrich the domestic aviation emergency rescue equipment spectrum, enhance the aviation emergency rescue capabilities, for the construction of the national emergency rescue system to make greater contributions." Miao Zhimin said.
