History of Eurofighter DA2/ZH588

14 Aug 1993 : Rolled out at BAE Warton in two-tone grey colour scheme.
30 Aug 1993 : Carried out its first engine runs using interim RB199 Mk 104E engines.
06 Apr 1994 : First flight at British Aerospace Warton, Lancs. BAe AirOPs director Chris Yeo was at the controls for a 50 minute flight, during which the aircraft attained 287mph at 10,000ft. 575 development sorties were scheduled as the aircraft�s test life.
04 May 1994 : Flown in front of UK Government Ministers and government and industry officials at Warton.
24 May 1994 : Ninth flight (pilot John Turner), by the end of which DA2 had accumulated 7 hours 14 minutes flight time, at up to 327 kts at 26,000ft and manoeuvres up to 3.5g. The aircraft was then grounded for structural inspection and retrofitted with first software upgrade for flight control and cockpit displays, instrumentation, and associated systems replacing the initial Tornado-style analogue cockpit instruments.
17 May 1995 : Second phase of development flying commenced with first flight � its tenth - since installation of new software. The aircraft took off at 18:54 and returning at 20:16 following three practice approaches; the pilot was Chris Yeo. Completed eight flights 17 May � 8 June. Diverted to RAF Leeming, Yorkshire on the 13th flight on 24 May due to adverse weather conditions at Warton. The pilot on this occasion was John Turner, EF200 Project Pilot at Warton.
09-13 Jun 1995 : On static display at Paris airshow at Le Bourget, flying in on 9 June (Flight 18, pilot John Turner) and leaving on the evening of 13 June (Flight 19).
15 Jun 1995 : Flight 20; First supersonic flight by DA2; reached Mach 1.05. Pilot Chris Yeo. Flights 20, 22 and 23 concerned rapid role manoeuvres and loops.
24 Jun 1995 : At RAF Leeming for two days with reported fuel leak.
28 Jun 1995 : Flights 22 and 23: entering loops at 5,000ft, beginning at 300 knots, but slowing to 190 knots.
22/23 Jul 1995 : Appeared at RIAT Fairford, Gloucestershire for its first public flying demonstration, flying its 31st, 33rd and 34th flights which included further tests � radio communications trials off the south coast of England at 25-30,000ft and engine handling trials on the way back to Warton.
09 Nov 1995 : Flight 57 � RAF EF2000 pilot Squadron Leader Simon Dyde flew the aircraft for the first time on a 70 minute sortie from Warton.
31 Dec 1995 : By this date DA2 had logged 67 sorties. Most of the development flying was by BAe Eurofighter project pilot John Turner.
30 Aug 1996 : By this date, DA2 had logged 132 sorties.
02-07 Sep 1996 : Displayed in flight at Farnborough by Eurofighter Project Pilot John Turner.
Nov 1996 : Following its appearance at Farnborough, the aircraft was taken out of service for routine inspection and maintenance and upgrades, including preparations and software for phase three of the flight expansion trials (carefree handling to evaluate the Flight Control System, refuelling, etc). The updates included the fitting of a spin recovery parachute and gantry as a safety measure to facilitate the Carefree Handling Trials. Trials flown by Craig Penrice, Eurofighter Typhoon Project Pilot.
10-14 Nov 1997 : Carried out ground refuelling trials with an RAF Lockheed Tristar tanker during a detachment to RAF Brize Norton.
23 Dec 1997 : Reached design goal speed of Mach 2 over the Irish Sea.
12 Jan 1998 : Carried out the first air to air refuelling trials with VC10 K3 tanker ZA149.
Feb-Aug 1998 : Retrofitted with definitive EJ200 powerplant; also given cockpit system upgrades and had a Martin Baker Mk 16A zero � zero ejection seat fitted.
Aug 1998 : Returned to flight following modification.
Sep 1998 : Flown in formation with the RAF Red Arrows formation team during the opening ceremony for the Farnborough International Air show.
Mar 1999 : DA2 completed its baseline configuration flutter trials at Mach 1.2 and 750kts Equivalent Air Speed as part of the Weapon System Development Programme (this equated to a True Air Speed of 800 kts).
Apr 1999 : Equipped with new ASP (Aircrew Services Package) DA2 reached an altitude of 50,000ft.
May 1999 : Conducted ground-carrying trials of various dummy stores intended for the Typhoon.
Jul 2000 : Flew with 2B2 flight control software installed, as the first of the development aircraft to receive the upgrade.
28 Jul 2000 : Began series of survey flights for which the aircraft�s skin was covered in 490 pressure transducers, for which it was painted in an all-black colour scheme which hid the sensors and pads.
Jul 2000 : Shown at Farnborough Airshow, and with DA1, made the first public Typhoon formation flight.
2001 : Deployed to RAF Leuchars for airflow measurement trials. Carried markings of No 43 "Fighting Cocks" Squadron during this deployment. Other tasks that year included engine re-light trials.
Jan 2002 : DA2 and DA4 were refuelled at the same time from an RAF tanker aircraft.
07 Apr 2002 : By this date, the aircraft had made 419 flights, with 374.7 flying hours.
04 Jun 2002 : Flew in the Queen's Golden Jubilee flypast.
Jul 2002 : Flown at Farnborough Air Show, including being part of a four-Typhoon display on 23 July - the first time four aircraft had been shown together.
2002 : Conducted captive flight trials with MBDA ASRAAM air-to�air missile
Jul 2002 : The carefree handling trials were completed around this time. They had included fitting an extensive four-missile configuration to clear the Typhoon for initial operational clearance. Followed by Defensive Aids Sub-System trials.
2006 : At Warton, DA2 continuing successful testing of a Towed Decoy in long-lasting flights and a new pilot�s helmet design, fully integrated into the avionics system.
29 Jan 2007 : Made its final flight from Warton to RAF Coningsby. Some spares recovery, including engines, for other development batch and RAF aircraft.
c. Nov 2007 : Dismantled and taken by road from RAF Coningsby to RAF Brize Norton for C-17 air portability trials, to be held December 2007 [did these take place?].
22 Jan 08 : Taken by road to RAFM Hendon for display in Milestones Gallery.

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© David Hastings