Gripen Demo makes its maiden flight

[tigershark]

Gripen Demo makes its maiden flight
[Updated 2] View the Gripen Demo first flight video! Today Saab conducted the maiden flight with the Gripen Demo, the test platform for the further development of Gripen. The flight lasted for 30 minutes and went totally according to plan.
5/27/2008 | "We´re flying what in many aspects is a completely new aircraft a month after Roll-Out. This is quite unique and it shows Gripen´s opportunities for further development. It also shows our own ability to develop new, more efficient working methods." says Lars-Erik Svedlund, Saab´s project manager for the Gripen demonstrator programme.

Since the Gripen Demo was presented, the programme has proceeded with ground trials and continual evaluations in order to guarantee flight safety. Tuesday´s flight took place in good weather from Saab´s airfield in Linköping. Maximum altitude for the first flight was 6,400 meters and maximum speed was 320 knots.

"Everything went according to plan. The Gripen Demo is more powerful compared to earlier versions of Gripen but is just as easily flown. We look forward to continuing the test programme at the same high pace as up to now." says test pilot Mikael Seidl, who together with his colleague Magnus Ljungdahl crewed the first flight.

 

In a press release, the Swedish Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors commented the flight with the following words:

“Saab implemented today a successful test flight with the Gripen Demo, and that is very joyful. Next Generation Gripen is a high-tech project in world-class with a very high international competitiveness. Last autumn the government decided - in cooperation with Norway – to support the financing of a demo program as a base for further development of the Gripen. Defence Minister Anne Grete Strøm-Erichsen and I were present when the fighter was rolled-out in Linköping, which shows the interest in the project in both our countries”. 


The Gripen Demo aircraft is a flying test platform for the next generation of Gripen and for the further development of present versions. The aircraft will test and develop many of the essential systems and capabilities that will be applied to the Gripen NG (Next Generation) design, such as:

    * a more powerful engine
    * an active electronically scanned (AESA) radar
    * communication systems
    * electronic warfare and
    * weapons development
Driving the development of new technology

The Gripen Demo is not just the first step towards a new Gripen – it is driving the development of new technology for existing Gripen customers and for other applications. The Demo aircraft is a platform for technology insertion for the whole Gripen family. It reassures any customer buying Gripen today that they will be able to upgrade and enhance their aircraft when needed.
Partnership with world leading companies

The Gripen test platform has been achieved in partnership with several of the world’s leading companies within the aviation industry: General Electric, Thales, Rockwell Collins, Honeywell, APPH, Terma, Martin-Baker and Meggitt.

Source
http://www.gripen.com/en/MediaRelations/News/2008/Gripen_Demo_makes_its_maiden_flight.htm