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Airbus A310 Slats & Flaps Control Computer (space model)

Technical Information

Catalogue No: C0354
Category: Flight Control
Object Type: Model
Object Name: Airbus A310 Slats & Flaps Control Computer (space model)
Part No: 49-079- -
Serial No: None
Manufacturer: Marconi Avionics
Division: Unknown
Platform(s): Airbus A310
Year of Manufacture: Unknown
Dimensions: Width (mm): 190
Height (mm): 197
Depth (mm): 385
Weight (g): 3,320
Location: Rack RAA01 [Main Store]
Inscription(s):

Manufactured by Marconi Avionics Ltd
for Liebherr GmbH
Slat/Flap Control Computer
Part No. 49-079- -
Serial No.
DO.160 ENV CAT
A1ABXXFXFXBAAAZ
Marconi Avionics Ltd K0656

Notes:

This unit is a model for the A310 (which first flew in 1982) and has the full front panel. The link below gives an article on the 500th SFCC delivery for the A310 in 1988.

GEC-Marconi Avionics has been supplying SFCCs to Liebherr Aero Technik as part of the Slat/Flap Control System for the Airbus A310 and A300-600 since the early 1980s. The slat/flap control computer provides the electronic control for the slats and flaps of a fully fly-by-wire secondary flight control system. Two 6 MCU units are fitted to each aircraft and in the event of failure of one computer, the system continues to operate satisfactorily to provide the operator with an extremely high availability. Each LRU contains independent channels for slat/flap control and monitoring. Commands are generated from a cockpit-mounted Control Sensor Unit (CSU) and provide discrete angular settings for both slat and flap which are input to the SFCC. A computing channel, whether it be for slat or flap, comprises two dissimilar digital lanes, different microprocessors being used for the command and monitor The slat and flap drive systems are controlled and monitored by the SFCC, each of them controls one slat and one flap hydraulic motor. lanes. When the command and monitor lanes agree an output is provided to the hydraulic motor drive to position the surface accordingly. Further safety features include protection against mechanical jam, drive shaft rupture, runaways or asymmetrical operation. Dissimilarity of both hardware and software provides the flight crew with a high degree of confidence as the probability of an incorrect computed command is extremely low. Dissimilarity is reflected from the hardware into the software which is compiled using a different language written by different software teams.

In service on the wide bodied Airbus since 1983 with over 7,500 computers supplied. The mature MTBF has reached over 20,000 operating hours.

 

The RAA contains a number of models of equipment and aircraft. The equipment models were used as a marketing aid and often to ensure that the production unit will fit in the space; this was particularly true for Head Up Displays. Such equipment models will have minimal or no functionality. Models might  just be used as weighted units or as cockpit lighting evaluation units. The HUD used on the YF-16 was of the correct weight and envelope but only mounted the Spin 'chute button (a feature only required for the early test flights). Many of these models were made by professional model makers from the original drawings and could be quite expensive; alternatively the real hardware would be used.

The aircraft models range from the simple small scale kits to quite large display items. The large model aircraft were often a marketing tool from places like Airbus or Boeing but may be found in Boardrooms or Reception areas wheras the small models may be given as a visitor handout. Those models made from kits have largely been brought in from home but are useful to illustrate the platform alongside the equipment. The large models will be hugely expensive.

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