photo:Textron AirLand The Textron AirLand Scorpion will make its airshow debut this July, appearing at two of the world’s premier defense...
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| photo:Textron AirLand |
Scorpion will make its maiden airshow debut in static display at RIAT 2014.
The two seat Scorpion is described as an affordable, multi-role tactical military jet with a lowest $3000 per hour flying cost, replacing heavier strike fighters currently used, in ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) roles and is also targeting potential buyer nations who can't afford a modern tactical jet aircraft.
The aircraft is designed to undertake irregular warfare, border patrol, maritime surveillance, emergency relief, counter narcotics and defense operations.
The European flight comes just six months after Scorpion’s first flight in December 2013.
Scorpion will fly the 4,700 nautical miles journey from Wichita, Kansas to the United Kingdom, with some modifications for long range flights.
This include an engine inlet ice protection system, a metal leading edge replacing a composite one- to allow the plane to fly in a broader range of weather conditions, a onboard oxygen-generating system in place of oxygen bottles for continuous supply of oxygen to the pilots and a cockpit ladder.
Scorpion will be accompanied by a prototype Cessna Citation Sovereign+ business jet as the chase jet, observing and recording Scorpion’s performance and carrying the ground support crew.
The pair will follow a northern route, leaving Kansas in early July and traveling through Canada and Nordic nations before arriving in the UK.
The round trip distance of nearly 10,000 nm will be logged as part of Scorpion’s flight test program which is expected to reach 300-400 test hours in some 150 flights by 2014 end.
Currently the aircraft has logged 77 flight test hours in 41 flights, reaching a top speed of 0.76 Mach or 455 KTAS.
Scorpion's all-composite airframe incorporates an internal weapons bay as well as external hardpoints, and is powered by two Honeywell TFE731 turbofan engines.
The prototype aircraft was designed from scratch and built at a Cessna facility in east Wichita in secrecy, beginning in early 2012.Low-volume production is slated for 2015.
The Scorpion is being built by U.S. based Textron AirLand, a joint venture of Textron with AirLand Enterprises.
