MPC 75
{{Short description|West German–Chinese regional propfan airliner}}
{{confusing|date=April 2013}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = MPC 75 | image = | caption = | alt = }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type = Propfan regional airliner | manufacturer = {{plainlist|
| designer = | first flight = | introduction = | national origin = {{plainlist| | retired = | status = Abandoned | primary user = | more users = | produced = | number built = | variants with their own articles = }} |
MPC 75 was an aircraft project of MPC Aircraft GmbH, a subsidiary of Deutsche Airbus (German Airbus). Work on the project was done mainly between 1988 and 1992 in Hamburg, Germany. Predevelopment work was finished, however the project never got the "go ahead" and never made it into full development.
Development
On 3 October 1985, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) of West Germany signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) to jointly study the feasibility of an aircraft designated the MPC 75, a propfan-powered regional aircraft that would seat 60 to 80 passengers. On 6 June 1986, the companies agreed to another MoU during the 1986 Hanover ILA air show to start the second phase of feasibility studies. MBB also signed an MoU at that event with General Electric to determine whether its unducted fan (UDF) propulsion technology could be scaled down to power the MPC 75.
The results of the feasibility study were released internally in July 1987. It concluded that the MPC 75's baseline configuration met the technical and market requirements, which included the critical mission of Kunming, China to Chengdu, China. The feasibility study also declared that the General Electric's {{convert |9,620|lbf|kN kgf lbf|adj=mid|thrust|abbr=off|order=out}} GE38-B5 UDF was the only suitable engine investigated, with a takeoff thrust-specific fuel consumption of {{convert |0.240|lb/lbf/h|g/kN/s|abbr=off|order=flip}}, and a cruise SFC of {{cvt |0.519|tsfc|order=flip}} at Mach 0.8 and {{convert |35,000|ft|m|adj=mid|altitude|order=flip}}. The baseline configuration had grown to seat about 75 passengers, with a potential stretched version holding about 100 passengers. The primary alternative engine studied was the {{cvt|14,500|lbf|kN kgf lbf|adj= mid|thrust|order=out}} PW–Allison 501-M80E, an engine proposed jointly by Pratt & Whitney and the Allison Engine Company, that was a propfan derivative of the Allison T406/501-M80C turboshaft engine selected for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. This engine was ruled out as too powerful, because it required the baseline aircraft configuration to be in the 90–110 seat range. However, at their respective baseline configurations, the 501-M80E had a superior specific fuel burn value of 0.0285 kg per nautical mile per seat, compared with the GE38-B5's 0.0324 kg/nmi/seat.
On 15 October 1987, MBB and CATIC signed an agreement to advance to the predevelopment phase of work on the aircraft. To plan for joint work, MBB and CATIC opened an office in Hamburg, West Germany in April 1988, and they targeted a finish to the predevelopment phase in 1990 before entering the production phase in Hamburg and Xi'an, China. In May 1988, MBB also signed an MoU with Allison to research supplying an engine for the MPC 75. The agreement would potentially power the MPC-75 with an engine derived from the T406 using a gearbox connected to contra-rotating propfans. However, alternative airframes and engine types such as turbofans and ducted propfans would also be investigated. On 31 October 1988, MBB and CATIC announced that they had founded a joint firm in Hamburg called the MPC-75 GmbH, which would administer all activities related to the aircraft. The firm had an ownership of 80 percent for MBB and 20 percent for CATIC.
The name "MPC" was formed from "MBB" and "People's Republic of China" because the project was a German - Chinese joint venture. In the wake of restructuring German aerospace companies in 1989, MBB was taken over and the MPC 75 project came under "Deutsche Airbus GmbH". "Deutsche Airbus GmbH" was representing the independent German part of the Airbus consortium. For the development of MPC 75 restructuring did not make a difference since the same engineers continued the design work.{{Cite web | url=https://www.fzt.haw-hamburg.de/pers/Scholz/MPC75.html | title=The Aircraft MPC 75}}
On 07.01.1989 "MPC Aircraft Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung" (HRB41092) - abbreviated to "MPC Aircraft GmbH" - was founded with head office in Hamburg. Eventually it became a 100% subsidiary of Deutsche Airbus GmbH. MPC Aircraft GmbH formally took over the MPC 75 project. On 13.12.1994 the company was renamed to MPCA Multi Purpose Commuter Aircraft GmbH reflecting the end of the German-Chinese cooperation. Abbreviated the company name remained MPC Aircraft GmbH.{{Cite web|url= http://www.genios.de/?explicitSearch=true&q=H1453589.NR.&ZG_PORTAL=UBROWSING&dbShortcut=:2:ALLEQUELLENNEU-132_:2:HANDELSREGISTER|title = Genios – Handelsregister}}
The first design of the MPC 75 was a 75-seat (4 abreast) regional jet, with an open rotor propfan and a T-tail. In the later development, the design changed to an 89-seat (5 abreast) regional jet, with conventional turbofan engines and a conventional empennage (MPC 75-100). A stretched version with a capacity of 115 seats was also planned (MPC 75-200).
The fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control technology accumulated in the project was later fed into a research aircraft called Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD).{{Citation | url = http://www.vfw614.de/atd_e.html | archive-date = 2013-12-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224038/http://www.vfw614.de/atd_e.html | title = The Project VFW 614 ATD | website = www.vfw614.de | place = DE}} The ATD was a revived VFW 614.
Design
The MPC 75 was designed with a high amount of composite materials to save structural weight.
Flight control was based on fly-by-wire with sides-sticks and CRT displays.
The jet had two high bypass ratio engines. The new technologies would have led to low operational costs per trip and seat compared to other aircraft at that time.
Specifications
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Airplane Characteristics{{R|"MPC199010"|pp=M75.A.0005.C, M75.A.0006.C, M75.A.0008.F}} ! Variant !! MPC 75-100 !! MPC 75-200 |
| Maximum take-off weight (MTOW)
| {{cvt|39950|kg|lb|sigfig=3}} || {{cvt|45100|kg|lb}} |
|---|
| Maximum landing weight (MLW)
| {{cvt|37950|kg|lb|sigfig=3}} || {{cvt|42850|kg|lb|round=50}} |
| Maximum zero-fuel weight (MZFW)
| {{cvt|35350|kg|lb|round=50}} || {{cvt|41000|kg|lb|sigfig=3}} |
| Operating empty weight (OEW)
| {{cvt|24500|kg|lb}} || {{cvt|27000|kg|lb|sigfig=3}} |
| Maximum structural payload
| {{cvt|23,950|lb|order=flip|round=50}} || {{cvt|14,000|kg|lb|sigfig=3}} |
| Maximum fuel capacity (outboard tanks)
| colspan=2 | {{cvt|10,450|L|gal}} |
| Maximum fuel capacity (center section tanks)
| colspan=2 | {{cvt|1,320|gal|L|order=flip}} |
| Seats (typical two-class)
| 82 || 107 |
| Seats (single class)
| 89 || 115 |
| Cabin width (armrest level)
| colspan=2 | {{cvt|3.23|m|ftin}} |
| Stowage volume (overhead)
| {{cvt|6.54|m3|ft3}} || {{cvt|8.75|m3|ft3}} |
| Stowage volume (underfloor)
| {{cvt|18.15|m3|ft3}} || {{cvt|27.55|m3|ft3}} |
| Wing area
| colspan=2 | {{cvt|92|sqm|sqft}} |
| Wing span
| colspan=2 | {{cvt|97|ft|6|in|order=flip|sigfig=3}} |
| Height
| colspan=2 | {{cvt|33|ft|4|in|order=flip|sigfig=3}} |
| Length
| {{cvt|93|ft|7|in|order=flip|sigfig=3}} || {{cvt|110|ft|3|in|order=flip|sigfig=3}} |
| Engine thrust (sea-level static)
| {{cvt|62.3|kN|lbf kgf}} || {{cvt|73.4|kN|lbf kgf}} |
| Range (standard)
| {{cvt|1600|nmi|km mi}} || {{cvt|1400|nmi|km mi}} |
| Range (with center wing fuel tank)
| {{cvt|2600|nmi|km mi}} |
See also
{{Portal|Aviation}}
References
=Citations=
{{Reflist|1|refs=
{{cite report |work=Daily Report: China |title=Cooperation agreements signed |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015049008934?urlappend=%3Bseq=24 |publication-date=1 November 1988 |pages=12–13 |location=Beijing, China |date=31 October 1988 |department=International Affairs: West Europe |volume=FBIS-CHI-88-211 |translator=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |hdl=2027/mdp.39015049008934}}
{{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1988/1988%20-%201348.PDF |title=Allison joins MBB/China propfan project |date=21 May 1988 |page=14 |volume=133 |number=4114 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429014021/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1988/1988%20-%201348.PDF}}
{{cite report |work=Europe: Science & Technology |series=JPRS Report |translator=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |title=MBB, PRC continue plans for MPC 75 aircraft |url=https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA346198/page/n10 |department=Transportation |pages=7–8 |publication-date=1 July 1988 |date=13 May 1988 |location=Hannover, West Germany |volume=JPRS-EST-88-004 }}
{{cite news |issn=1930-2533 |work=Indianapolis Star |title=Gas Turbine joins venture with W. German firm |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105941681/ |via=Newspapers.com |publication-date=7 May 1988 |page=B–7 |department=Business |given=S.P. |surname=Dinnen}}
{{cite report |work=Daily Report: China |title=Aircraft coproduction accord signed with FRG |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435021558309?urlappend=%3Bseq=460 |publication-date=15 October 1987 |page=10 |location=Beijing, China |department=International Affairs: West Europe |volume=FBIS-CHI-87-199 |publisher=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |hdl=2027/osu.32435021558309}}
{{cite magazine |issn=0010-8073 |magazine=The Controller: IFATCA Journal of Air Traffic Control |title=MBB-UT and China plan a new generation in the aircraft industry |url=https://issuu.com/ifatca/docs/1986_04/16 |page=16 |publication-date=December 1986 |volume=25 |number=4 |publisher=International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA)}}
{{cite magazine |issn=0005-2175 |magazine=Aviation Week and Space Technology |title=Manufacturers unveil propfan aircraft and powerplant projects |url=https://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/19860616/#!&pid=26 |department=Hanover Air Show |pages=26–27 |publication-date=16 June 1986 |url-access=subscription |volume=124 |number=}}
}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin|30em}}
- ZABKA, Werner; MEHDORN, Hartmut: Technologie-Kooperation mit China : Das Beispiel Flugzeugbau. Oberhaching, Aviatic, 1997. - {{ISBN|3925505423}}
- {{cite conference |conference=Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences |conference-url=https://icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS1992/1992.php |edition=18th |date=20–25 September 1992 |location=Beijing, People's Republic of China |title=MPC75 - The evolution of a new regional airliner for the late nineties |url=https://icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS1992/ICAS-92-1.6.1.pdf |pages=1084–1093 |surname1=Fischer |given1=B. |surname2=Chen |given2=J.Z. |oclc=761191715}}
- {{cite report |work=Science & Technology: Europe |series=JPRS Report |id=JPRS-EST-92-009 |url=https://archive.org/stream/DTIC_ADA344062/DTIC_ADA344062#page/n8 |date=27 March 1992 |pages=5–7 |translator=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |title=Regioplane consortium to develop 80-130-seat passenger liner |last1=Thomalla |first1=Volker K. |publisher=Flug Revue |publication-date=February 1992 |orig-date=February 1992 |publication-place=Stuttgart |via=Joint Publications Research Service }}
- {{cite report |work=Science & Technology: Europe |series=JPRS Report |id=JPRS-EST-91-021 |url=https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA343974/page/n5 |date=25 October 1991 |pages=2–6 |translator=Foreign Broadcast Information Service |title=German-Italian aerospace cooperation reviewed |last1=Ciampi |first1=Antonio O. |publisher=Luft Und Raumfahrt |publication-date=July–August 1991 |orig-date=July–August 1991 |publication-place=Bonn |via=Joint Publications Research Service }}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=DASA confirms 130-seat rivalry |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1990/1990%20-%203333.PDF |date=7–13 November 1990 |page=5 |department=Headlines |volume=138 |number=4241 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130090512/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1990/1990%20-%203333.PDF}}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=Regional angle on jets |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%202854.html |date=19–25 September 1990 |pages=34–35 |given=Julian |surname=Moxon |department=Farnborough Review |volume=138 |number=4234}}
- {{cite conference |conference=Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences |edition=17th |date=9–14 September 1990 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |title=Aerodynamic design for a new regional aircraft |url=http://icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS1990/ICAS-90-2.7.1.pdf |conference-url=http://icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS1990/1990.php |pages=1251–1265 |surname=Greff |given=E. |oclc=1109530657}}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=MBB/Catic offer new-look MPC75 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1990/1990%20-%201128.PDF |date=18–24 April 1990 |volume=137 |number=4212 |page=20 |department=Technical: Air Transport}}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=MPC gears up: The joint-venture MPC company, formed recently by MBB and the Chinese Government, is now actively defining the MPC75 airliner project in preparation for a decision to go-ahead at the end of 1990. |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%200989.html |date=8 April 1989 |pages=19–21 |given=Peter |surname=Middleton |location=Hamburg, West Germany |volume=135 |number=4159}}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1988/1988%20-%201401.PDF |title=Propfan project on hold |date=28 May 1988 |page=7 |volume=133 |number=4115 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207010545/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1988/1988%20-%201401.PDF}}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0005-2175 |magazine=Aviation Week and Space Technology |title=Short Brothers to join Mpc-75 development team |url=https://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/19880516/#!&pid=67 |url-access=subscription |date=16 May 1988 |department=Air transport |pages=67, 69 |location=Hannover, West Germany}}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=Germany beyond Airbus: Promising projects and financial woes dominate the West German aerospace industry |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%200878.html |pages=116–118 |date=13 June 1987 |given=Stefan |surname=Geisenheyner |location=Bonn, West Germany |volume=131 |number=4066 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123044449/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%200878.html}}
- {{cite magazine |issn=0015-3710 |magazine=Flight International |title=MBB to build Chinese propfan |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1986/1986%20-%201318.PDF |date=14 June 1986 |page=2 |volume=129 |number=4015 |department=World News |location=Hannover, West Germany}}
- {{cite news |issn=0294-8052 |work=International Herald Tribune |title=MBB sees big potential in China plane venture |department=Business Roundup |page=19 |number=32127 |date=7–8 June 1986 |given=Ronald |surname=van de Krol |url=https://archive.org/stream/InternationalHeraldTribune1986FranceEnglish/Jun%2007%201986%2C%20International%20Herald%20Tribune%2C%20%2332127%2C%20France%20%28en%29#page/n18 |location=Hannover, West Germany}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://MPC75.ProfScholz.de Short Description and Images of the MPC 75] (Retrieved: 3 December 2012)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224038/http://www.vfw614.de/atd_e.html ATD Research Aircraft]—Used the fly-by-wire system of the MPC 75 (Retrieved: 3 December 2012)
{{MBB aircraft}}
{{CATIC Aero Products}}
Category:Abandoned civil aircraft projects
Category:Aircraft manufactured in Germany
Category:China–Germany relations