CN 235

The CN235 regional airline and military tactical transport was designed and developed under the Airtech banner as A 50. One prototype was built in both countries and these rolled out simultaneously on September 10 1983. The Spanish prototype flew first, on November 11 1983, with the Indonesian built aircraft following on December 30 that year.

Certification by both Spanish and Indonesian authorities and first deliveries (from the Indonesian line) occurred in December 1986. Entry into commercial service was in March 1988. Final assembly lines for the CN235 are in Spain and Indonesia, but all other construction is not duplicated. CASA is responsible for the centre and forward fuselage, wing centre section and inboard flaps, and engine nacelles. IPTN builds outer wings and flaps, ailerons, the rear fuselage and the tail unit. The initial production CN23510 was soon replaced by the CASA built CN235100 and IPTN's CN235110, incorporating CT79C engines in place of CT77As, and new composite engine nacelles. Further improvements led to the CASA CN235200 and similar IPTN CN235220 with increased operating weights, better field performance and greater range, with structural improvements and improved leading edge flaps and rudder. The CN235220 was certificated in March 1992. CASA and IPTN now develop their own CN235 variants independently. Other variants on the CN235 theme are the CN235 QC quick change capable of carrying passengers or freight or both; IPTN's CN235 MPA maritime patrol aircraft and CASA's CN235MP Persuader (which while primarily aimed at military customers, have customs and boarder patrol applications); and the widely ordered CN235 M multirole military freighter. IPTN is marketing military CN235s as the Phoenix. CASA has developed the stretched C-295, primarily for military use. The CN235 has succeeded in achieving only a small number of commercial orders, mostly from Indonesian and Spanish operators. In contrast the CN235's spacious interior and rear loading ramp has helped it win a significant number of military orders. Dimensions Overall Length : 70 ft 3 in (21.40 m) Wing Span : 84 ft 8 in (25.81 m) Height : 26 ft 10 in (8.18 m) Fuselage : 636.17 sq ft Nomenclature Operating Empty Weight : 21, 605 lbs (9800 kg) Max Take Off Weight : 33,290 lbs (9800 kg) Power plant : Two 1395kW (1870shp) General Electric CT79C turboprops.