Textron AirLand, LLC and Beechcraft Defense Company, both
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) companies, recently hosted student pilots
from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Textron Aviation’s
Wichita, Kansas facilities to evaluate capabilities of the Scorpion
ISR/strike jet and Beechcraft AT-6 light attack aircraft as part of
the school’s Capstone Project.
The Textron AirLand Scorpion ISR/strike
jet and Beechcraft AT-6 light attack aircraft fly in formation with
the USAF’s Beechcraft C-12 during one of several evaluation
flights. (Photo: Business Wire)
Five students and three instructors from the Test Pilot School
spent a week in Wichita with teams from Textron AirLand and
Beechcraft for the school’s project – to evaluate a new
production/prototype aircraft with a set list of criteria. The
student pilots participated in both classroom and cockpit ground
training, as well as in preparatory and evaluation flights. A total
of 19 flights were successfully completed in four days – 12 demos
on the Scorpion and seven on the AT-6.
Scorpion completed three flights daily during the four day event
– delivering 100% aircraft availability and 100% mission
accomplishment. After each flight, Scorpion rapidly returned to the
air, with an average aircraft turn time of 31 minutes, and a best
turn time of 20 minutes. The AT-6 also turned in an excellent
performance for its seven flights, with 100% aircraft availability
and 100% mission accomplishment.
“We were pleased to offer the USAF Test Pilot School with two
state-of-the-art defense aircraft in which to perform their project
evaluations,” said Russ Bartlett, president, Beechcraft Defense
Company. “The demonstrations not only allowed us to showcase the
capabilities of the aircraft, but it also allowed us to gather
feedback, which has already proven beneficial as we continue to
prepare these aircraft for entry into the market.”
“It was an honor to collaborate with the USAF Test Pilot School
on the project, and our team also learned a lot by completing so
many flights in such a short span,” said Bill Anderson, president,
Textron AirLand. Soon after completing the event, Scorpion’s own
test pilots were back in the aircraft, self-deploying from Wichita
to South America for additional demo flights requested by a foreign
air force.
Scorpion returned to Wichita on May 5th after completing its 10
day, 6,627 nm round-trip, international journey. During the trip,
Scorpion completed 17 sorties, added 28.1 hours to the plane, and
executed six demo flights (four on the first day) for a prospective
Air Force customer. The flights achieved 100% mission availability
and 100% mission accomplishment. Along the way, Scorpion
participated in two static display events in Florida (SOUTHCOM in
Miami and CENTCOM in Tampa) – also without the need for additional
support aircraft or personnel.
About Textron AirLand ScorpionTextron AirLand’s Scorpion™
Jet was introduced in 2013 and has completed several hundred hours
of flight testing with an exceptionally high mission availability
score. Scorpion is a highly affordable, multi-mission aircraft
offering diverse capabilities including intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief,
advanced training and precision strike. Aircraft features include
twin-engine power, two-seat operation, large internal payload
capacity, high-definition ISR cameras, wing-mounted weapons
stations, modern avionics, all-composite structure and more. For
further specifications and flight videos, please visit
www.ScorpionJet.com.
About Beechcraft AT-6The Beechcraft AT-6 is a multi-role,
multi-mission aircraft system designed to meet the spectrum of
needs for the light attack mission. Leveraging a range of
highly-specialized, but off-the-shelf capabilities, the AT-6 is
outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment such as Pratt and Whitney
PT6A-68D engine, CMC Esterline’s mission modified Cockpit 4000,
Lockheed Martin’s A-10C-based mission system and L-3 WESCAM’s
MX-15Di sensor suite. The aircraft has successfully demonstrated
high-end net-centric and light attack capabilities and is fully
compatible with U.S. and NATO Joint Terminal Attack Controller
systems.
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.
About Textron Aviation Inc.Textron Aviation Inc. is the
leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic
Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than
half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation
companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft
Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in
designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most
versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in
the world through five principal lines of business: business jets,
general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high
performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft,
and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad
range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation
and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6
military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the
industry’s largest global service network. For more information,
visit txtav.com.
About Textron Inc.Textron Inc. 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. For more information
visit: www.textron.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/20150514006295/en/
Textron AirLandDavid Sylvestre, 401-457-2362
Textron (NYSE:TXT)
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