WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Textron AirLand, LLC, a Textron company (NYSE: TXT), today completed the Scorpion's
266th flight test hour, one year after its first flight on December 12,
2013. “Today’s anniversary flight was a fitting tribute to our teams who
have worked tirelessly to meet a very demanding flight test schedule,”
said Textron AirLand president
Bill Anderson
. “In the past year,
Scorpion has flown to many US states and across the
Atlantic—demonstrating that a highly affordable, relevant, multi-mission
tactical aircraft can also be highly reliable,” he added.
Scorpion completed its 266th flight test hour on December 12, 2014 in Wichita, Kansas, on the anniversary of its first flight. (Photo: Business Wire)
First-year flight testing highlights:
• Total flight hours: 266 from December 12, 2013 to December 12,
2014
• Availability: Scorpion’s first-year availability rating was
greater than 95 percent, an extremely high mission capability score
for a prototype tactical jet aircraft
• Confirmed efficiency: Demonstrated below $3,000 per flight hour
• First trans-Atlantic roundtrip flight: Scorpion crossed the
Atlantic for its international debut at the Royal International Air
Tattoo and Farnborough International Air Show. The trip was completed
one day ahead of schedule, covering over 9,200 nautical miles in a
total of 38 hours flight time.
• International demo: Flew the first international pilot at the
British Empire Test Pilots’ School
• First military exercise: Participated in Vigilant
Guard 2014, a large-scale, multi-state disaster response exercise
sponsored by U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau.
Scorpion provided aerial reconnaissance, transmission of full motion
video and communications regarding mock threat scenarios, in tight
coordination with other aircraft and ground stations
• Longest flight: 4.2 hours during Vigilant Guard 2014
• Top speed achieved: 455 Knots True Air Speed (KTAS); 0.78 Mach
• Low speed achieved: Demonstrated an intercept of a low, slow
flying threat aircraft below 100 KTAS
• Top altitude achieved: 45,000 feet
For a closer look at the Scorpion and its multi-mission capabilities,
please visit www.ScorpionJet.com.
Downloadable images and videos of recent test flights are available in
the Scorpion
Media Gallery.
About Textron
Textron is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of
aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide
customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known
around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter,
Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee
and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
About Textron AirLand, LLC
Textron AirLand has developed a highly affordable and exportable
twin-engine ISR/Strike/Trainer jet for the tactical military aviation
market. A versatile jet platform based on commercial best practices and
proven high technologies, Scorpion is designed as a multi-mission
aircraft for diverse battlefield, security and training missions. More
information about our initial aircraft is available at www.ScorpionJet.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking
statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals,
outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as
of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors
that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but
not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to
develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the
launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new
product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our
ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new
products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our
customers; changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget
constraints and determinations; changes in government regulations or
policies on the export and import of military products; volatility in
the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that
adversely impact demand for our products; performance issues with key
suppliers or subcontractors; and continued demand softness or volatility
in the markets in which we do business.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20141212005715/en/
Source: Textron Inc.