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MRA4 - First Production Aircraft

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MightyHunter:
For all interested in the MRA4 , the first production model PA04 ZJ514 flew for the first time on Thurs Sept 10th at approx 1600 GMT. After an uneventfull day carrying out 2 high speed aborts to test braking the aircraft took to the air and within 10 secs the gear was raised , Cheif Test Pilot Bill Oval commenced a hard turn to take a downwind right circuit to commence a fly past for the awaiting production staff in the hundreds to watch. A shake of the wings at 200ft with the howl of the MRA4 BR710s made it quite an emotional experience.

Keep your eyes posted as the hand over to the RAF happens in October but the aircraft will operate under RAF control at Warton for a mentioned time till Kinloss can accept it . PA05 and PA06 are not very far behind and the BAE staff are doing a fantastic job getting these jets ready in time . ISD at Kinloss still 31st Jan but reality says April 2010 at present .


Mightyhunter  ;D

AVIATOR:
Thanks for the heads up. Here are a pic and specifications.

MRA4

General characteristics

    * Crew: 10
    * Length: 38.6 m (126 ft 9 in)
    * Wingspan: 38.71 m (127 ft)
    * Height: 9.45 m (31 ft)
    * Wing area: 235.8 m2 (2,538 sq ft)
    * Empty weight: 46,500 kg (102,515 lb)
    * Max takeoff weight: 105,376 kg (232,315 lb)
    * Powerplant: 4× Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofans, 68.97 kN (15,500 lbf) each

Performance

    * Maximum speed: Mach 0.77, 496 kn (571 mph, 918 km/h)
    * Range: 11,119 km (6,910 mi)
    * Service ceiling: 12,800 m (42,000 ft)

Armament

    * Guns: None
    * Hardpoints: 4 under-wing pylon stations and an internal bomb bay holding up to 22,000 lb (9,980 kg) of payload
    * Rockets: None
    * Missiles:
          o Air-to-air missile: 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder
          o Air-to-surface missile: AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, Storm Shadow
    * Bombs:
          o Depth charges
    * Others:
          o Air-dropped Mark 46 torpedos, Sting Ray torpedos
          o Naval mines

MightyHunter:
This one better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhkflpKgkzw

MRA4 is awesome

Webmaster:
Thanks for posting the news and update on its progress!

Gripen:
Not meaning to sound dumb, but that's very much like a Nimrod  ??? and to a lesser extent a Comet  ???

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