Home > Newsroom > News Releases > Press Release Details
Textron AirLand Marks the One-Year Anniversary of the Scorpion ISR/Strike/Trainer Jet’s First Flight
12/12/2014
WICHITA, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Textron AirLand, LLC, a Textron company (NYSE: TXT), today completed the Scorpion’s 266th flight test hour, one year after its first flight on December 12, 2013. “Today’s anniversary flight was a fitting tribute to our teams who have worked tirelessly to meet a very demanding flight test schedule,” said Textron AirLand president Bill Anderson . “In the past year, Scorpion has flown to many US states and across the Atlantic—demonstrating that a highly affordable, relevant, multi-mission tactical aircraft can also be highly reliable,” he added.
Scorpion completed its 266th flight test hour on December 12, 2014 in Wichita, Kansas, on the annive …
Scorpion completed its 266th flight test hour on December 12, 2014 in Wichita, Kansas, on the anniversary of its first flight. (Photo: Business Wire)
First-year flight testing highlights:
• Total flight hours: 266 from December 12, 2013 to December 12, 2014
• Availability: Scorpion’s first-year availability rating was greater than 95 percent, an extremely high mission capability score for a prototype tactical jet aircraft
• Confirmed efficiency: Demonstrated below $3,000 per flight hour
• First trans-Atlantic roundtrip flight: Scorpion crossed the Atlantic for its international debut at the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough International Air Show. The trip was completed one day ahead of schedule, covering over 9,200 nautical miles in a total of 38 hours flight time.
• International demo: Flew the first international pilot at the British Empire Test Pilots’ School
• First military exercise: Participated in Vigilant Guard 2014, a large-scale, multi-state disaster response exercise sponsored by U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau. Scorpion provided aerial reconnaissance, transmission of full motion video and communications regarding mock threat scenarios, in tight coordination with other aircraft and ground stations
• Longest flight: 4.2 hours during Vigilant Guard 2014
• Top speed achieved: 455 Knots True Air Speed (KTAS); 0.78 Mach
• Low speed achieved: Demonstrated an intercept of a low, slow flying threat aircraft below 100 KTAS
• Top altitude achieved: 45,000 feet
For a closer look at the Scorpion and its multi-mission capabilities, please visit www.ScorpionJet.com. Downloadable images and videos of recent test flights are available in the Scorpion Media Gallery.
About Textron
Textron 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 and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
About Textron AirLand, LLC
Textron AirLand has developed 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.
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, 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; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; and continued demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20141212005715/en/
Source: Textron Inc.
Investor Contact:
Textron
Doug Wilburne, 401-457-2288
or
Robert Bridge, 401-457-2288
or
Media Contact:
Textron
