Shatters Pressurization 'World Record'
It seems fair to say
that the folks at Sino Swearingen work well under pressure
(grin).
Company officials announced Tuesday their SJ30-2 aircraft
fuselage has passed the FAA pressurization tests to the ultimate
load limits of 31.40 psi. Company officials claim the successful
outcome if this test meets the requirements for the advertised
pressurization of 12 psi and 49,000 ft. altitude.
Higher pressurization is a key factor for increased comfort
levels, in reducing fatigue, drowsiness, tired feelings, staying
alert, easier breathing, more oxygen in each breath and possibly
even reducing jet lag. With pressurization of 12 psi the SJ30-2
cabin comfort will be at Sea Level while cruising at 41,000 ft.
At the maximum altitude of 49,000 ft the cabin will be at 1,800
ft. Sino officials claim no other aircraft cabin
offers this standard of pressurization comfort.
Dr. Carl L. Chen, CEO
and president of Sino Swearingen stated, "This is aviation history
in the making and we have taken a huge advance in our certification
program by passing the FAA pressurization Ultimate Load test
successfully, the first time, on time."
Dr Chen added, "We believe we have actually broken a world
record. The 31.40 PSI reached during the FAA testing is higher than
all general aviation business jet aircraft ever built in the
history of aviation. It even exceeds the pressurization of all
airliners in the world, and incredibly including the high altitude
Supersonic Concorde SST."
Ed Swearingen, Senior Advisor and Director of Sino Swearingen
Aircraft stated, "We designed the SJ30-2 using conservative stress
levels to ensure a long fatigue life."
Ed also stated, "With 12 psi, we would only have a 5,500 ft
cabin in outer space ... if we could find the right booster
rocket."
The company set a Target Pressurization at 31.33 psi and during
the tests they even exceed the target and brought the fuselage up
to 31.40 psi and successfully passed at that pressurization level.
Throughout FAA testing, the fuselage must first undergo massive
forces in a number of configurations to limit loads.
The fuselage is then subsequently pumped up and subjected to
extreme ultimate load testing of 31.40 psi -- the crucial
testing of 167 percent of additional forces and loads over those
experienced in the worst case limit load tests.
Up to 45,000 ft maximum altitude the FAA safety factor is 133
percent but the SJ30-2 is designed to go up to 49,000 ft and at
altitudes above 45,000 the safety factor increases to 167 percent,
which is the level that it was tested at.
The company attached
326 sensors to the fuselage and they were taking readings from all
sensors simultaneously throughout the tests.
As the pressurization was stepped up the engineering staff
continued with the "go signal" as they analyzed sensor output. With
everything in the green they took the fuselage to the Ultimate Load
of 31.40 psi and passed the test easily.
The SJ30-2 will be certified for single pilot operations. The
company continues advancing the FAA certification process with
estimated final certification in the second half of next
year.