Aircraft
In The Works: Bombardier Continental
Four of five test aircraft planned for the Continental flight-test program are now flying, with the fourth (dedicated to proving the reliability and mainta

Four of five test aircraft planned for the Continental flight-test program are now flying, with the fourth (dedicated to proving the reliability and maintainability of the interior in flight) having made its first flight on April 5. By the middle of last month the four airplanes had accumulated more than 641 hr on 398 flights.

The first test airplane, dedicated to aerodynamics and performance testing and flying since August 14 last year, has logged more than 263 hr on 141 flights. It has flown up to a maximum speed of 353 kt and demonstrated takeoffs above the model’s mtow of 37,500 lb and landings at the mlw of 33,750 lb. Testing of forward and aft c.g., low- and high-speed handling characteristics, ice shapes and manual flight control reversions have been conducted.