Several Hundred Additional Flight Test Hours Planned This Year

The Scorpion Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)/Strike aircraft completed additional test flights in January and February, according to Textron AirLand, LLC and AirLand Enterprises, LLC.

The Scorpion team is planning to conduct several hundred hours of additional flight tests in 2014, each flight targeting specific objectives pushing the aircraft’s airspeed, altitude, and performance envelope. “Overall, we’ve had very positive results through the initial test flights. In these early flights, we have evaluated the aircraft performance and tested a wide range of mechanical and electronic systems. The Scorpion is a very agile platform and I’m confident in the airframe as we continue through the test and evaluation phase,” commented Dan Hinson, chief test pilot for the Scorpion team and 23-year veteran Navy pilot.

Most of the test flights will be conducted at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, and the team is planning numerous flights outside of the area.
 
Textron AirLand is pursuing sales opportunities with US military branches as well as a number of US partner nations. The company is seeking market license and export approvals for additional opportunities, driven by early interest from specific US partner nations.

(Image provided by Textron)

FMI: www.textron.com