Evektor's first production conforming EV-55 Outback made its maiden sortie on 8 April from the Czech airframer’s headquarters at Kunovice airport.
The twin-engined turboprop – serial number 3, registration OK-DRM – took off at 11:45 local time for a 20min flight that “went according to plan”, says Evektor.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-2-powered aircraft will be used for systems testing and the type’s performance and flight characteristics will also be evaluated.
It joins the initial flying prototype, MSN1, which made its first sortie in 2011 and has logged over 370h of flight testing, says Evektor. The second prototype is a ground test article which has completed load testing and is undergoing stress tests.
Evektor
The EV-55 programme was launched by Evektor in 2005, marking the piston-engined aircraft developer's first foray into the business and utility aircraft sector.
However funding shortages have significantly delayed development of the nine to 14-seat EV-55, originally scheduled for certification and service entry in 2013. Evektor is keeping the aircraft's orderbook and certification timetable under wraps.
The high-wing, all-metal aircraft will be offered in configurations including VIP, high-density passenger, cargo and utility. An amphibious variant is also planned.
Evektor says it is has not selected a supplier for the EV-55’s integrated glass flightdeck, so the initial batch of aircraft will “be delivered with a classic cockpit containing a “combination of analogue and digital instruments”.
The company is majority owned by three private Czech shareholders. Malaysia’s Aspirasi Pertiwi, which acquired the Evektor group in 2014, has a minority stake in the venture, Evektor says.
Source: Flight International
