"We accomplished everything we set out to achieve,"
Field Aviation Pilot Craig Tylski said. "The aerodynamic performance
was right on the money and even with the additional aerodynamic shapes,
such as the radome, the demonstrator performed like a normal aircraft.
The control and handling were excellent."
Additional airworthiness flights are scheduled for
the next two months. Once they are complete, the aircraft will fly
to a Boeing facility in Seattle where the MSA mission systems will
be installed and tested.
MSA uses proven technologies developed for Boeing's
P-8A Poseidon program to provide multi-mission surveillance capabilities.
The baseline configuration features an Active Electronically Scanned
Array multi-mode radar, an Electro/Optical/Infrared sensor, Electronic
Support Measures, a Communications Intelligence sensor and Automated
Identification System.
Boeing achieved first flight of the MSA demonstrator
on an accelerated schedule due to rapid prototyping and lean manufacturing
techniques by Boeing Phantom Works, the company’s advanced technology
organization, working closely with industry teammates.
Boeing has selected the Challenger 605 business jet
as the MSA platform and will leverage Field Aviation's engineering
and modification experience with the Challenger family of aircraft
to modify the jet.
