Ranier Aircraft Ra-62

Ra-62
Role	Narrow-body jet airliner
National origin	Cacerta
Design group	Ranier Aircraft
First flight	24 March 1962
Introduction	11 January 1964 with RCAC
Status	In service
Primary user	RCAC Gyliair
Produced	1963-present

The Ranier Ra-62 is a Cacertian long-range narrow-body jetliner designed by Ranier Aircraft and first flown in March 1962. With a capacity of almost 200 passengers, the Ra-62 was one of Tyran’s pioneering long-range aircraft designs and was the first of its type to be operated by Cacerta. The Ra-62 entered service with the Royal Cacertian Air Carriers on 11 January 1964 making its first passenger flight from Fumicino to Mişeyáke. In 1965, the Ra-62 achieved the fastest crossing of the Bara Sea by a subsonic jet airliner.

Gyliair began purchasing and operating Ra-62s in 1966 as the largest narrow-body aircraft in their fleet at the time. The Ra-62s went on to be the standard long-range airliner for both RCAC and Gyliair for several decades. It continues to be operated by both companies into the present day with the upgraded Ra-62neo (New Engine Option) greatly improving its performance and service. Gylias’ Miyashita Industries began locally manufacturing the aircraft in 1995, although Ranier Aircraft still continues to provide mechanical and technical support.

Despite the introduction of wide-body airliners beginning with the Cheppali 749, the Ra-62 was never fully supplanted by larger aircraft and makes up a large part of the RCAC narrow-body fleet and is a recognizable part of Gyliair. The spiritual successors of the Ra-62s are the wide-body Ra-72 and Ra-86, neither of which were as successful as the Ra-62 nor made in significant numbers.

Development

In March 1957, during a booming period in fixed-wing air-travel in Tyran, the Royal Cacertian Air Carriers submitted a general request to Cacerta’s aircraft manufacturers for a new jet airliner. The specifications outlined required that the aircraft must carry at least 165 economy-class passengers or 100 first-class passengers and capable of travelling distances between 4,500 km (2,800 mi) and 6,700 km (4,200 mi). With Vulcan working on rolling out the V57C and both Casati and Ersilia working on military contracts, Ranier Aircraft was the only company readily available to take on the project.

The Ra-62 would eventually replace the turboprop V57C which had been the primary fixed-wing aircraft in Cacertian service on long-range routes. Just as the V57C was beginning regular service, the development of the Ra-62 had only just begun; significant care was taken by Ranier to develop an unhurried design.

Unique among other contemporary aircraft of the time, the Ra-62 was designed with four engines fitted in twin nacelles mounted on the rear of the fuselage beneath a T-tail empennage. This design allowed for the aircraft to be uniquely optimized for aerodynamic efficiency without being hampered to carry engines while also allowing for reduced engine noise in the cabin as a result of the engines being rear-mounted. However, the wing structure, which lacked the weight of engines to counter-balance wing-bending, had to be designed to be heavier as did the rear fuselage to safely carry the aircraft’s engines.

The rear-mount of the engines allows the wings to be aerodynamically clean, granting the Ra-62 to fly through 16 –18 m/s air turbulence without adversely affecting stability. A dog-tooth feature was designed to be included in the wing leading edge and acts as a fence vortex generator that allows for vice-free control at high angles of attack as well as assisting in long-range efficiency.

The first of five total prototypes made its initial flight on 3 January 1960 and after this first test flight, several design changes were implemented. Some of these changes included the position of the wing’s dog-tooth as well as a 3-degree cant from horizontal in the mounting of the aircraft engines. Thrust reversers were also developed for the outboard engines to assist in landing.

Variants

Ra-62

The initial production version that was powered by four 10,500 kg (103 kN) Ra-8 turbofan engines with accommodation for an operating crew of five and 168 passengers.

Ra-62M

An improved version of the Ra-62 which switches out the original Ra-8 engines for Er-30M engines. The passenger capacity was increased to 186 and the cargo hold improved with a containerized baggage and freight system. The Ra-62M also has modified wing spoilers, a revised flight deck, and increased fuel capacity.

Ra-62S

The Ra-62S is the Cacertian government contract version of the Ra-62 used for transporting high-level government officials. The interior configuration has been modified heavily in order to transport high-level VIPs and their accompanying entourages. A special variant painted in the livery of House Sarissita operates as the primary jet transport for Queen Anelyn.

Ra-62C

Cargo version of the Ra-62M.

Ra-62neo (New Engine Option)

The Ra-62neo is a newer development of the Ra-62 that was introduced in 2007 as a joint-venture between Cacerta and Gylias. Re-engined with Miyashita LEAP-1As or Er-30neo engines, Ra-62neos are 15% to 20% more fuel efficient than their original configuration. The neos were introduced with RCAC in 2008.

Operators

Civil Operators

• Cacerta; Royal Cacertian Air Carriers—RCAC currently operates 26 Ra-62neos.
• Gylias; Gyliair—Gyliair currently operates 70 Ra-62neos.

Government Operators

• Cacerta; Cacertian Royal Air Fleet—The Royal Air Fleet maintains 14 Ra-62s as part of its fleet; ten as cargo aircraft and four as VIP transports (with one designated specifically for the Queen).

Specifications (Ra-62M)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 5 (captain, first officer, flight engineer, navigator, radio officer); 4 - 8 cabin crew
• Capacity: 168 - 186 passengers
• Length: 53.12 m (174 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 43.2 m (141 ft 9 in)
• Height: 12.35 m (40 ft 6 in)
• Wing Area: 279.55 m² (3,009.1 ft²)
• Gross Weight: 71,600 kg (157,851 lbs)
• Max Takeoff Weight: 165,000 kg (363,763 lbs)
• Fuel Capacity: 105,000 l (23,200 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 4 × Er-30M turbofan engines, 108 kN thrust each

Performance

• Maximum Speed: Mach 0.72 (900 km/h, 559 mph) at altitude
• Range: 10,000 km (6,200 mi, 5,400 nmi)
• Service Ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft) at maximum cruising height
• Rate of Climb: 18 m/s (3,500 ft/min)