Typhoon pre-delivery test flights
 

What are the factory test flying requirements for Typhoon before RAF delivery?

What systems are tested in flight. I.e. Will radar be tested against different aerial targets at different altitude / speeds etc how do they know if the weapons will work without actually doing a live firing? Does each aircraft feel the same in terms of handling?
Any other info would be great.

All tested on an iPad.;)

OAP

I have no specific knowledge - last time I had anything to do with Typhoon, it was still a 1/18th scale model in a wind tunnel.

Generally however, you can expect individual aeroplanes - of any type - tested at a factory - to have a set of systems ground tests, probably with various test sets connected. You can then expect a flight test that checks performance of engines and aircraft overall against scheduled data at a few cardinal points (climb, max level, possibly acceleration), with the assumption that if those points are met, so will the rest of the envelope. You can expect representative manoeuvres to be checked against standard handling knowns, and the radar to be checked against some standard features - more likely convenient mountains / islands - airborne targets have been checked at the prototype stage and then simulated using ground test equipment.

No, I'd not expect live firing of weapons before delivery to the squadrons, but I would expect very strenuous checks against ground test equipment.

Where specific faults have been found on previous aircraft in flight, the odds are that these will be checked in flight test. No, I've no idea what those are.

Somehow I doubt that you'll get a straight answer from anybody who actually works on Typhoon - but good luck.

G

Why would such 'info' be 'great'?

The questions you pose are totally inappropriate on a public forum. Please take your espionage activity elsewhere....:mad:

John Farley once told me the first flight for each Harrier entailed a vertical takeoff with a full fuel load followed by a timed climb.

Not sure what they are called these days, but every military aircraft type used to have a Flight Test Schedule - it was an AP -5M. Every flight test requirement was listed, depending on the reason for the flight test. Nothing particularly secretive about flight tests, just a lot of accurate, timed, methodical data taking with the occasional Vne dive to wake the crew up and to check all the important bits stayed attached.

PS. You can buy old Flight test Schedules (5M) off Amazon etc. if you are that curious. Just seen one for the Hunter on sale.

Hmmmm.
 

My thoughts entirely.

Curious that Thelma shows a post count of Zero since 2008 [as a supposed 'Newbie"] when a search shows 577 posts - many of which are 'information-seeking'.

Now't as strange as folk, I suppose.

The "factory flying tests" are whatever the contract says; and will therefore be commercial-in-confidence.

But as it is a new aircraft, your best template is the Release to Service as it must state the limitations against the aircraft specification. Of equal import is the system level testing that has preceded this. One establishes the performance on the bench, then in an integration rig. The aircraft contract usually starts by saying that achieved performance must not be degraded once installed, but in practice it almost always is - for example, in avionics equipment proximity is a factor. Simplistic I know, but I'm not reciting the whole book!

On the other hand, a well known (on this forum) programme in the 90s waived pre-delivery flight testing altogether, resulting in the first 2 aircraft being Cat 3s; to be repaired at MoD's expense.

This is probably at much as you will get (it at least covers a couple of aspects).

The Ultimate Test Drive | BAE Systems | United Kingdom