Textron AirLand has carried out successful maiden flight of the first production conforming Scorpion jet.
Textron AirLand has carried out successful maiden flight of the first production conforming Scorpion jet.
The enhanced version incorporates a number of improvements as result of the extensive flight test program and feedback from potential customers.
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 on Wednesday.
The flight 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 multi-mission, twin-jet is designed to excel in roles ranging from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to close air support and armed reconnaissance.
The enhanced Scorpion features the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck 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.
The program so far has accumulated more than 800 flight hours in both test and real-world operational settings.
Scorpion jet has successfully completed its first weapons exercise at White Sands Missile Range, while operating from Holloman Air Force Base (HAFB) in New Mexico in early October.
The trial involved Hydra-70 unguided 2.75-inch rockets, BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and AGM-114F Hellfire Missiles.
These weapons were guided to their targets using first a ground-based laser designator system and then an airborne laser on the Scorpion‘s L-3 WESCAM’s MX-15Di sensor suite.
Scorpion features an all-composite airframe with tandem twin seats, powered by two Honeywell TFE731 turbofan engine rated at 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust each.
The aircraft weighs 21,250 lbs maximum with 6,000 lbs internal fuel. Weapons can be carried in the internal weapon bay (3000 lb) and the six wing mounted weapon stations (6000 lb).
Max speed is 450 KTAS and can operate up to an altitude of 45,000 ft.
