Saab has conducted the maiden flight with the Gripen Demo, the test bed for the further development of Gripen. The flight lasted for 30 minutes and went totally according to plan.
“We’re flying what in many aspects is a completely new aircraft a month after Roll-Out. This is quite unique and it shows Gripen’s opportunities for further development. It also shows our own ability to develop new, more efficient working methods.” says Lars-Erik Svedlund, Saab’s project manager for the Gripen demonstrator programme.Since the Gripen Demo was presented, the programme has proceeded with ground trials and continual evaluations in order to guarantee flight safety. Tuesday’s flight took place in good weather from Saab’s airfield in Linköping and was conducted according to a well-rehearsed schedule. “Everything went according to plan. The Gripen Demo is more powerful compared to earlier versions of Gripen but is just as easily flown. We look forward to continuing the test programme at the same high pace as up to now.” says test pilot Mikael Seidl, who together with his colleague Magnus Ljungdahl crewed the first flight. The Gripen Demo is a flying test bed for the next generation of Gripen and for the further development of present versions. The aircraft has a new, more powerful engine and a new radar. Gripen will be able to carry heavier loads and has a longer range. The Gripen test bed is realized in partnership with several of the world’s leading companies within the aviation industry: General Electric, Thales, Rockwell Collins, Honeywell, APPH, Terma, Martin-Baker and Meggitt.
|
