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| Textron’s Scorpion jet making its first flight. Photo: Textron |
[Avionics Magazine 12-23-2016] Textron AirLand’s first production-conforming Scorpion jet has made its successful maiden flight, the company announced Dec. 22. The Scorpion jet is a new tactical aircraft designed to excel in roles ranging from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to close air support and armed reconnaissance. The program milestone closely follows the recent successful weapons capability exercise on the prototype Scorpion completed in early October.
The aircraft took off from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas and conducted a range of maneuvers during the one hour and 42 minute flight. The multi-mission, twin-engine jet performed well and 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.