WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Textron
AirLand, LLC, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced the
successful maiden flight of the first production conforming Scorpion
jet. This program milestone closely follows the recent successful
weapons capability exercise on the prototype Scorpion completed in early
October. The Scorpion jet is a bold new direction for tactical aircraft
designed to excel in roles ranging from intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance to close air support and armed reconnaissance.
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Scorpion takes its maiden flight (Photo: Business Wire)
The aircraft took off from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita and
conducted a range of maneuvers during the one hour and 42 minute flight.
The multi-mission, twin-engine jet performed extremely well and was
piloted by experimental test pilots Don Parker and Dave Sitz, who
verified the avionics and aerodynamic performance as well as a number of
aircraft systems.
The latest version of the Scorpion incorporates a number of improvements
based on target customer feedback as well as results from the extensive
flight test program. The program has accumulated more than 800 flight
hours in both test and real-world operational settings.
The company also announced Garmin as the avionics provider for the
enhanced Scorpion. This avionics platform is based on the advanced G3000
integrated flight deck and is optimized for rigorous military
operations. The newly configured G3000 avionics system features a large,
high-definition display complemented by two high-definition touch-screen
controllers and provides more mission capability in the forward cockpit
position, additional navigation capability in the rear cockpit position
and overall weight savings for improved performance as a multi-mission
aircraft. In addition to the new avionics, changes to the airframe
include four degrees of sweep to the wings, an enhanced aft horizontal
stabilizer for improved high-speed performance, a simplified landing
gear design, a next-generation Heads Up Display (HUD) and hands-on
throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls.
The first production conforming Scorpion will start a robust flight test
program, working closely with the United States Air Force on the first
of its kind airworthiness assessment of a Non-DoD military aircraft
design.
About Textron AirLand Scorpion
Designed and built with leading-edge technologies, Textron AirLand’s
Scorpion jet is a bold new direction for tactical aircraft. The
company-funded program progressed from concept to first flight in just
23 months and was designed to capture the synergy between commercial
aircraft production practices and advanced mission system technologies.
In over two years of flight operations, the Scorpion has deployed to 10
countries, participated in military training exercises and operations,
flown numerous U.S. and international military pilots and amassed more
than 800 flight hours. The Scorpion provides unparalleled acquisition
and operating costs with a dispatch reliability rating exceeding 98
percent. The Scorpion is very versatile in terms of mission flexibility
with its center payload bay, six hard points, high dash speeds and
extended endurance and loiter time at cruise speeds.
Image:
First
flight of the first production conforming Scorpion jet
About Textron AirLand, LLC
Textron AirLand has developed, in the Scorpion, 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, Bad Boy Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation +
Training. 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, risks
related to a company-funded military product, including, but not limited
to, a new airworthiness assessment process and difficulties in obtaining
a first customer; 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; volatility in interest rates
or foreign exchange rates; risks related to our international business,
including relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers,
representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection
with international business, including in emerging market countries.
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Source: Textron