Originally posted by Ghost01
What is your definition of a prototype and how is it any different from having a test plane?
Tim
A prototype is, as you say, the first cut design that is built (in some fashion), but is not simply anything that comes prior to production models.
However, there are large differences between a 'prototype' and 'prototyping' - and the latter is done to a great extent in the development phases
as well.
Take the Concorde as an example:
2 Prototype aircraft (MSN001, MSN002)
2 Development aircraft (MSN101, MSN102) - also sometimes referred to as 'pre-production'
2 Pre-production aircraft (MSN201, MSN202) - also sometimes referred to as 'production standard test'
A prototype is a validation of the project design - it will prove that the basic design is sound and worth continuing with. Prototypes invariably get
retired very quickly. In this case, the X-35 that won the competition would be classed as prototype
A development aircraft is where the bulk of the design improvement happens - it incorporates any changes made after the prototype and during the
development phase. In Concordes case there was a lot of
prototyping done on the development aircraft for new systems, resulting in large
changes over the cycle.
A pre-production (or production standard test) will validate the development phase, and while it will differ from the development aircraft in
sometimes substantial ways, it will not differ substantially from any following production standard.
Indeed, in many cases, pre-production standard aircraft will often be elevated to production standard at some point after the certification is carried
out.
Examples of this happening are the A380 (excluding all its difficulties for now please) -
MSN001 is a prototype aircraft and differs from the production standard pretty significantly.
MSN002, 003, 004 and 007 are pre-production standard aircraft and will eventually be refurbished and go to Qatar.
Eurofighter is another project where the development aircraft are actually largely production standard (essentially what are called 98% performance
aircraft) and have been by and large increased to production standard and incorporated in production fleets (mainly its the initial deliveyr of two
seat trainers).
