As well as being equipped with a common engine baselined for 23,300lb (104kN) of thrust, all four members of the CSeries will feature a common nacelle and pylon. Bombardier is opting to construct the centre fuselage and wing from aluminium alloy "with composite components where they make sense", says Holding.
However, "everything behind the rear pressure bulkhead" including the tailcone, tailplane and fin will be built from composites.
In order to maximise commonality between the baseline and stretched versions, only the centre section of the longer aircraft will be modified, allowing exactly the same cockpit, front-barrel, rear-barrel, tail and wing to be used. "There's 90%-plus commonality across the family," says Holding.
The fly-by-wire flight control system will encompass envelope protection, and the flightdeck will be equipped with four 36 x 28cm (14 x 11in) liquid crystal displays, sidesticks and "cursor-control for cockpit devices". Inclusion of single or dual head-up displays and class 3 electronic flight bag is "under consideration". The five-abreast, single-aisle cabin will have 18.5in-wide window and aisle seats and 19.5in middle seats, together with pivoting overhead luggage bins. The manufacturer is studying the possible use of passenger seats constructed from composites. The landing gear will be brake-by-wire and "we are looking at electric brakes very seriously", says Holding.
Source: Flight International
