Eurofighter EF2000 project pilot John Turner is set to become the first pilot to complete a century of test flights in the aircraft - he expects to reach three figures within a week of returning to Britain from Singapore.
As the man with most sorties (98) and a total of 80 hours' flying time, Turner is in the enviable position of knowing the next generation fighter inside out.
He has been with the programme for five years and has flown the aircraft at every stage of its flight test development.
Fantastic
"Passing the 100-flight mark will no doubt cost me a barrel of beer," he says with a smile, "but it's worth it because Eurofighter is a truly fantastic aircraft.
"You can tell just how great it is to fly by the rivalry which exists within the test team. Everyone is vying to get more flight time - at the moment I have the most experience."
Turner, who is based at the British Aerospace aerodrome at Warton in England, has flown most of his hours over the Irish Sea and North Wales.
"There are so many facts and figures you could reel off about the aircraft but if I could sum it up from a pilot's point of view I would say it is absolutely cosmic," he enthuses.
Source: Flight Daily News
