Russia’s Irkut MC-21 has passed a series of cockpit-impact tests intended to demonstrate the aircraft’s resistance to bird-strike, hail and foreign-object damage.
The tests were conducted at the Central Aviation Motors Institute (SIAM) using a section of the twinjet’s forward fuselage.
SIAM says the cockpit was installed in a fixed position while a pneumatic gun fired projectiles – with a mass of 1.8kg and a speed of up to 600km/h – at the structure.
The institute says the impacts were directed at several points including the nose and the cockpit windows.
“Preliminary analysis of the results of the experiments showed the tests were successful,” it adds.
No significant change in the strength or shape of the aircraft structure was observed after the tests, the institute says, and the windows would be able to protect the crew.
Evaluation of the impact damage indicated that the cockpit had sufficient residual strength and that this would allow the flight to be safely completed.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
