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UK chief of air staff flies Eurofighter

19 Dec 2001

Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, the United Kingdom's Chief of the Air Staff, has just joined an elite band by taking control of the worlds most advanced swing-role aircraft, Eurofighter Typhoon.

Sir Peter took control of DA4, the twin seat development aircraft based at BAE Systems Warton, in a 60-minute flight, during his visit to BAE Systems' Warton site in Lancashire. In doing so Sir Peter became the first non-RAF test pilot to fly the aircraft.

During the flight The Chief of Air Staff experienced speeds in excess of 900mph and demonstrated the aircraft's supersonic, supercruise and groundbreaking handling capabilities.

On landing, Sir Peter commented, 'I am delighted to have flown Eurofighter, which will provide the backbone of the RAF combat capability for the next 30 years. The aircraft has remarkable excess thrust and agile handling characteristics. I envy those on the front line who will convert to the aircraft in the coming years.' 'After just one sortie, I can easily understand the enthusiasm shown by all the test pilots who have flown the aircraft to date.'

Ross Bradley, Managing Director of Eurofighter, BAE Systems, added: 'For the Chief of Air Staff, a major customer, to praise the aircraft the way he has done is a tremendous boost to everyone on the Programme.'

During his visit Sir Peter was also shown round the Eurofighter Typhoon final assembly facility where he was able to see the progress being made on the first aircraft to enter service with the RAF next year.
About Eurofighter Typhoon:

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the world's most advanced swing-role combat aircraft, developed by the leading aerospace companies, BAE Systems, EADS Deutschland, Alenia Aerospazio, and EADS Spain, of the four partner countries, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Eurofighter Typhoon features unrivalled technology, designed for the defence needs across the next forty years.

Agile, stealthy, twin-engined and designed to operate from hastily prepared bases and small runways and for worldwide operations. It is equipped with advanced multi-mode, pulse-Doppler Radar and an extensive range of sensors and electronic countermeasures.

The aircraft's ability to gain air superiority Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and in close combat, and at the same time deliver high sortie rates against naval and ground targets in all weathers with a variety of weapons, demands close attention to pilot workload. In Eurofighter the pilot flies through use of a computerised flight control system, which offers full carefree handling.

A strong emphasis has been placed on reducing cost of ownership in addition to outstanding performance and flight safety. Reliability, low cost of maintenance and a sophisticated on-board testing system ensure ease of day to day management and through life costs that make the Eurofighter Typhoon less expensive to run than the generation of aircraft it is designed to replace.

The Eurofighter partner nations will take delivery of 620 aircraft: 232 for the UK, 180 for Germany, 121 for Italy and 87 for Spain. Marketing of Eurofighter Typhoon continues to draw strong interest around the world with active campaigns currently underway in South Korea, the Netherlands, Asia, Greece and Norway.

About Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire KCB DFC AFC ADC FRAeS RAF, the Chief of Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire joined the RAF in 1966 and has flown a variety of aircraft including the Hunter, Harrier and Tornado. Sir Peter commanded No.1(F) Squadron in the early 1980s and flew in combat in the Falklands War.

His wide and varied RAF career has included numerous postings within the Ministry of Defence and he commanded the Tornado Tri-National Training establishments at RAF Cottesmore in the mid-1980s. He was formally the Commander in Chief Strike Command and assumed the role of the Chief of the Air Staff in April 2000. Sir Peter still flies regularly in a variety of RAF aircraft types, a task that he feels is vital to ensure that he remains firmly in touch with the frontline.