Ground and In-Flight Trials of Eurofighter In Progress

The evaluation trials of the third candidate for the partial replacement of the Tiger fleet (TTE) project began as scheduled on Monday, November 10, 2008 at Emmen. Night flights are also planned as part of the in-flight evaluation program. These flights will take place this week and next.>> To fully evaluate all systems, it is necessary to carry out flights in full darkness. After take-off, the aircraft will fly in airspace set aside for training purposes over the Alps, at altitudes of between 3,000 meters and 8,000 meters. They will be virtually inaudible.>> These flights will allow the evaluation of the aircrafts operational effectiveness and of the technical performance of on-board systems.>> They will, however, generate normal noise levels during take-off and landing at Emmen air base.>> The night flights of the Eurofighter, made by a European consortium, and of the F-18 Hornet that will be used as the target aircraft, will take place as follows from Emmen:>> --November 18:> Take-off: approx. 20:30 hours; landing: approx. 22:00> Aircraft: one Eurofighter and one F-18> -- November 25:> Take-off: approx. 20:30 hours; landing: approx. 22:00 hours> Aircraft: one Eurofighter and one F-18.>> Contingency replacement dates are Nov. 20 and 27. There will be a single night flight per week.>> No other night flights are planned>> These evaluation flights will be counted as part of the planned aerial activity at Emmen, so there will be no increase in the total number of flights from the air bases.>> Evaluation of the three candidates for the partial replacement of the Tiger fleet will be concluded in early December. No further night flight is planned, after that time, as part of the Tiger replacement program.