New type testing / certification.

[Capt Pit Bull]

Question I was asked today, that I didn't really know the answer to:

For a new airliner design (as opposed to a variant on an existing type) so lets say for example the A 380, how many flights form a typical testing and certification process. i.e. from first actual flight, to first revenue sector, what sort of number of sectors are involved.

Anyone know?

Thanks,

pb