The second SJ30-2 conforming twinjet has taken to the skies, to join serial number 0003 in the FAA certification flight test programme.

The programme has been stepped up to seven days a week with multiple flight crews conducting extensive testing day and night. The two conformed aircraft will be used throughout the FAA flight test programme and will be joined by a third conformed FAA flight test aircraft, serial number 0005, in a few months.

At the conclusion of the October 17 flight, ceo and president Dr Carl Chen said: “This is very exciting news for our company as we accelerate flight-testing toward FAA cert-ification. We are very happy with the entire team at Sino Swearingen and we congratulate them for a job well done. With the expeditious launch of this FAA test aircraft into the certification programme the team has accomplished another major milestone.”

Bob Kromer, manager of flight test and flight operations, piloted the aircraft from the left seat as test

pilot Mark Elwess handled engineering test pilot functions from the right seat.

“We lifted off at 15:28 with retraction of the landing gear and climbed to our planned altitude of 8,500 feet,” Kromer explained. “All basic systems were tested and a number of other procedures were conducted during the one-hour flight, which included reaching our planned speed of 180 knots in level flight, as well as testing the handling, stability and control of the aircraft.

“Slats and flaps were operated and general manoeuvring of the aircraft for feel as well as for takeoff and landing characteristics was checked. Mark and I were very enthusiastic about the flight. Serial number 0004 is a really good aeroplane.”

Alfred Baumbusch, senior vice president of operations, added: “The first flight of serial number 0004

went extremely well. It is prepared now to serve as the aerodynamics, stability/controls and performance flight test aircraft for the FAA type certification.”

With these three test aircraft, Sino says certification of the SJ30-2 will be completed on a schedule to be announced soon. The SJ30-2 is a seven-seat twinjet with high cruise speeds exceeding Mach .80 and an ultra-long range of 2,500 miles.