Denel optimistic about its regional aircraft project

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Ockie

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The Denel Group, South Africa’s State-owned defence and aerospace business, is upbeat on the future of its Small African Regional Aircraft (Sara) project. “We have progressed well on the Small African Regional Aircraft concept, and have developed a full-scale mock-up as part of the R&D [research and development] process,” reported acting group CEO Zwelakhe Ntshepe at Denel’s 2015/2016 annual results media briefing on Tuesday. “This is a national flagship project Denel is honoured to be involved in.”

It would be a 24-seat, pressurised, high wing twin-turboprop aircraft, able to carry passengers, freight or a mixture of both and able to operate from quite rough airstrips......................
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http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/ar...bout-its-regional-aircraft-project-2016-08-24
 
I wish them luck with this. It would be good if we can bring this to be and perhaps, with a aircraft like this, start bringing air services to our more remote bigger towns that cant support large airliners, but still has a need for some kind of commercial air service. Could spark development of their airfields also hopefully.
 
I doubt they're thinking commercial with this though. Small military transport more likely, especially with the rough airstrip capability
 
Ockie said:
Why not both?
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Not Denel's madate off the top of my head. Not saying eventually it wouldn't be used in civilian uses though. Just that the business case used to get the development budget will most probably be military
 
Precedents aren't good. Atlas bailed on the ACE and the CAVA. What chance they'll follow this one through?

Atlas ACE:
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Atlas CAVA:
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sox63 said:
I doubt they're thinking commercial with this though. Small military transport more likely, especially with the rough airstrip capability
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Its being touted almost solely as a commercial aircraft. The military market for this type of aircraft is already pretty sown up.
 
I know its a mock up or concept model, but not much of a FoV for the pilots.
 
FoXtroT said:
Don't know much about the ACE but CAVA was canned because it was being developed at the end of apartheid. So once it was over there was no need for it/no money for it.
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Yes, you're right about the CAVA project. I suspect the ACE was binned because the Pilatus came in cheaper. BTW I seem to recall that the ACE was called the OVID and was developed not by Atlas/Denel but by the CSIR.

The Rooivalk project hasn't been an outstanding success either. Good idea but a product of the political and military situation at that time, much the same as the CAVA.
 
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A quote from Sydney Camm on the TRS-2 which also applies to the above aircraft:

"All modern aircraft have four dimensions: span, length, height and politics. TSR-2 got just the first three right ..."

BTW I seem to recall that the ACE was called the OVID and was developed not by Atlas/Denel but by the CSIR.
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Atlas was the primary contractor, with the design and prototype manufacture being carried out by the CSIR.
 
HavocXphere said:
Think they're the biggest SoE that is actually doing OK aren't they?
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I think Transnet is bigger and doing better, but i could be wrong.

Denel has only really managed to turn itself around in the past 2ish years.
 
Noah said:
Pics? :^)
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I saw it, but it did not look like in the picture. Wings were not mounted and no engines or anything. Was just this sad looking mockup fusalage .... but I do see potential in it. Once they build a proper model of it, then I will consider worthwhile taking a picture of it. :)
 
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