Scorpion Eyed For RIAT, Farnborough Debut

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Scorpion Eyed For RIAT, Farnborough Debut

Textron is hoping to send its Scorpion prototype light attack, reconnaissance aircraft to an international coming-out at the U.K.’s Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough Air Show in July.

RIAT is set for July 11-13. Farnborough is the following week.

Industry sources say thus far the company has been able to work through the FAA’s requirements to do so. “Farnborough is among the international shows being considered for Scorpion,” says David Sylvestre, a Textron spokesman. He cautioned, however, that planning is still under way and the trip is not a done deal.

Scorpion, a clean-sheet, light attack/reconnaissance aircraft, was conceived by Textron in an attempt to fill a gap between armed turboprop trainers and jet-powered, high-performance fighters. Company officials are targeting a $3,000/hr. operating cost that would be appealing to smaller air forces.

Textron and AirLand, a small company formed to promote Scorpion, began building the demonstrator in January 2012; it first flew in December 2013 for 1.4 hr. It has since racked up nearly 60 hr. of flying. The aircraft was unveiled in Aviation Week in September.

Though company officials are hoping the U.S. Air Force would buy some of the aircraft, its best chances are for sales internationally.

With a ferry range of 2,400 nm, the aircraft likely would take a northern route, making a few stops along the way to the U.K., industry sources say.

Source: http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 678674.xml