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Canada
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Photo © Joan Martorell
More photos of Canadair CL-215 & 415
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Photo © Tom Brooks
More cockpit photos...
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CL-215 - Two 1565kW (2100hp) Pratt & Whitney R-2800 83AM 18 cylinder radial piston engines driving three blade constant speed propellers. CL-415 - Two 1775kW (2380shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops driving four blade constant speed Hamilton Standard props.
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CL-215 - Max cruising speed 290km/h (157kt). Initial rate of climb 1000ft/min. Range at max cruising speed 1715km (925nm), at long range cruising speed 2095km (1130nm). CL-415 - Max cruising speed 376km/h (203kt), long range cruising speed 270km/h (145kt), patrol speed 240km/h (130kt). Initial rate of climb 1375ft/min. Ferry range with 500kg (1100lb) payload 2430km (1310nm).
CL-215 firebomber - Empty 12,220kg (26,941lb), max takeoff from water 17,100kg (37,700lb), from land 19,730kg (43,500lb). CL-415 firebomber - Operating empty 12,333kg (28,353lb), max takeoff from land 19,890kg (43,850lb), from water 17,168kg (37,850lb).
CL-215 - Wing span 28.60m (93ft 10in), length 19.82m (65ft 1in), height 8.98m (29ft 6in). Wing area 100.3m2 (1080sq ft). CL-415 - Same except wing span over wingtips 28.63m (93ft 11in).
Flightcrew of two, plus accommodation in special missions variants for a third flightdeck member, a mission specialist and two observers. Passenger configuration for 30 at 79cm (31in) pitch, or in a combi configuration for 11, with firebombing tanks retained and freight in forward fuselage. Fire retardant payload capacity of 6123kg (13,500lb).
Total CL-215 production of 125. As of late 1998 51 CL-415s had been ordered. |
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Firebomber and utility amphibian
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The CL-215 was designed as a specialist firebomber, particularly suited to Canada and other heavily forested regions.
The resulting amphibious aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radials, and is capable of scooping up 5455 litres (1200Imp gal/1440US gal) of water in 12 seconds from a water source. The CL-215 first flew on October 23 1967, and first delivery was to the French civil protection agency in June 1969. Production of batches of CL-215s continued through to 1990.
Originally the subsequent CL-215T was to be a simple turboprop powered development of the CL-215, and Canadair converted two aircraft in 1989 to act as development aircraft. The first of these flew on June 8 that year. Retrofit kits for CL-215s to the new standard are offered, but Canadair elected not to build new CL-215Ts, and instead developed the CL-415.
The primary improvement added to the CL-415 over the CL-215T is an EFIS avionics suite, while other improvements, some of which first appeared on the CL-215T, include winglets and finlets, higher weights and an increased capacity firebombing system. Like the CL-215 its principle mission is that of a firebomber, but various special mission (including SAR and maritime patrol) and transport configurations are available.
The first CL-415 flew in December 1993 and was delivered from April 1994. The new CL-415GR has higher operating weights.
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