WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Textron AirLand, LLC, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today
announced that the Scorpion is now en route from Wichita, Kansas to
France and The United Kingdom, for exhibition at two of the world’s
premier defense aviation exhibitions. Scorpion will participate in The
International Paris Air Show from June 15 to 18, followed by Royal
International Air Tattoo in Fairford, UK, from July 17 to 19. Scorpion
will be the guest of multiple European air forces and will fly
demonstrations between the air shows.
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The Scorpion ISR/Strike aircraft will travel more than 10,000 nautical miles this summer as part of its European tour from June through July, including stops at International Paris Air Show and Royal International Air Tattoo (Photo: Business Wire)
With its arrival in Europe, Scorpion will have completed three
trans-Atlantic flights and flown numerous demonstrations in the U.S.,
Europe and Latin America. “We introduced Scorpion to the world at the
Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough International Air Show
last summer,” said Bill Anderson, president of Textron AirLand. “Since
then we have completed a full year of flight testing, meeting and
exceeding all performance targets,” he added.
Milestones Since First Flight, December 2013:
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With over 385 flight hours and a readiness rating of over 95 percent,
Scorpion has accumulated significant accomplishments in the 17 months
since first flight.
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Achieved its top speed of 450 KTAS, reached its service ceiling of
45,000 feet and validated its operating cost of less than $3,000 per
flight hour.
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In June 2014, Scorpion completed its first trans-Atlantic roundtrip
flight covering over 9,200 nautical miles in a total of 38 hours
flight time.
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Scorpion’s first military exercise was Operation Vigilant Guard 2014,
a large-scale, multi-state disaster response exercise sponsored by
U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau. It provided
aerial reconnaissance, transmission of real-time full motion video and
communications in support of other aircraft, ground stations and other
emergency responders reacting to mock threat scenarios— “mission
accomplished” without missing a sortie.
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Scorpion successfully intercepted a low slow flying threat aircraft
below 100 KTAS demonstrating its suitability for the Low Slow Threat
Aircraft Intercept Requirement as outlined in the NORAD Operation
Noble Eagle Defense of North America mission.
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The United States Air Force Test Pilot School (USAF TPS) recently
evaluated the Scorpion aircraft as part of Class 14B students’
“Capstone” exercise and to determine suitability as a T-38 replacement
for the TPS curriculum. USAF TPS flew the aircraft for four days,
achieving 100% mission availability and 100% mission accomplishment.
During the four days, Scorpion completed nearly 20 flight hours on 12
flights (For perspective, most US tactical jets fly 20 to 25 hours per
month). Every sortie was completed as scheduled (12 for 12) with one
aircraft. The average maintenance turnaround time from Scorpion
landing to “released for flight” was 38 minutes— the best turn was 15
minutes.
See Scorpion During its “Year of the Scorpion: 2015 Multi-Nation
Demonstration”
Scorpion will be on static display in its armed configuration, along
with advanced multi-spectral sensors and cameras for ISR missions.
Weapon systems on display will include Raytheon Griffin Missiles,
Lockheed Martin Hellfire and JAGM, FN Herstal 50 cal gun, Raytheon
Enhanced Paveway 4, MBDA Brimstone Missile and Textron Systems G-CLAW.
Scorpion will be joined by Beechcraft’s AT-6 Wolverine, Cessna’s Grand
Caravan EX and Beechcraft’s Baron G58 ISR, all part of Textron
Aviation’s product portfolio designed for special missions.
Scorpion is a multi-mission aircraft designed with diverse capabilities
including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, humanitarian
assistance, disaster relief, training and precision strike. Aircraft
features include twin-engine power, two-seat operation, large internal
payload capacity, high-definition ISR cameras, wing-mounted weapons
stations, modern avionics, all-composite structure and more.
For a closer look at the Scorpion, its mission capabilities and
innovation timeline please visit www.ScorpionJet.com.
Downloadable images and videos are available in the Scorpion
Media Gallery.
Media Invited to Meet the Scorpion Team
To schedule your interview, please contact
David Sylvestre
by cell phone
at +1 401-640-6719 or dsylvestre@textron.com.
Photographs and video are permitted. Background material and
high-resolution images to support your coverage can be found on www.ScorpionJet.com
and in the site’s Media Gallery.
About Textron AirLand Scorpion
Textron AirLand’s Scorpion™
Jet was introduced in 2013 and has completed several hundred hours of
flight testing with an exceptionally high mission availability score.
Scorpion is a highly affordable, multi-mission aircraft offering diverse
capabilities including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,
humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, advanced training and
precision strike. Aircraft features include twin-engine power, two-seat
operation, large internal payload capacity, high-definition ISR cameras,
wing-mounted weapons stations, modern avionics, all-composite structure
and more. For further specifications and flight videos, please visit www.ScorpionJet.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.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. 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. For more information
visit: www.textron.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.
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Source: Textron