Ground and In-Flight Trials of Rafale

The evaluation trials of the second candidate for the partial replacement of the Tiger fleet (TTE) project began as scheduled on Monday, October 13 at Emmen. Night flights are also planned as part of the in-flight evaluation program. These flights will take place [this] week.>> To fully evaluate all systems, it is necessary to carry out flights in full darkness. After take-off, the aircraft will fly in airspace set aside for training purposes over the Alps, at altitudes of between 3,000 meters and 8,000 meters. They will be virtually inaudible.>> These flights will allow the evaluation of the aircrafts operational effectiveness and of the technical performance of on-board systems.>> They will, however, generate normal noise levels during take-off and landing at Emmen air base.>> The night flights of the Rafale, of the F-18 Hornet that will be used as the target aircraft, and of the PC-21 used to evaluate flying lights for night formation flight, will take place as follows from Emmen:>> --October 21> Take-off: approx. 20:50 hours; landing: approx. 21:55 hours> Aircraft: one Rafale, one F-18 and two PC-21s>> -- October 28:> Take-off: approx. 20:30 hours; landing: approx. 21:55 hours> Aircraft: one Rafale and one F-18.>> Contingency replacement dates are Oct. 23 and 30. There will be a single flight per week.>> Similar flight tests will take place for the third candidate aircraft, the Eurofighter. Precise dates and times of these flights will be announced at a future time.>> These evaluation flights will be counted as part of the planned aerial activity at Emmen, so there will be no increase in the total number of flights from the air bases.