Bombardier has revealed the first image of a nearly structurally-complete CSeries test aircraft equipped for the first time with a pair of Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines.

The photo posted on the company's Twitter account shows the small narrowbody almost ready to make its public debut in a 7 March event inside Bombardier's factory in Mirabel, Quebec.

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 Bombardier

The photo reveals much progress in the roughly seven weeks since Bombardier last posted images showing the pace of progress in final assembly since the first flight event was delayed as much as six months from late December.

Aside from the obvious addition of the PurePower PW1500G engines, Bombardier's workers have also installed at least five of the six cabin doors and the leading edges on the wing. To complete assembly of the aircraft dubbed FTV-1, Bombardier still must install the nose radome, trailing edges on the wings and leading edges on the vertical and horizontal stabilizers.

Still unknown is the level of readiness of the aircraft systems, including Bombardier's first fly-by-wire flight controls. Last week, Bombardier said that the first flight software load has been installed in the complete integrated aircraft systems test area (CIASTA).

After qualifying the flight software, the CSeries still needs to complete final gauntlet testing and taxi testing. The revised schedule calls for first flight no later than 30 June and entry into service in 2014.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

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