Germany's first Quadriga programme Eurofighter completes maiden flight
New aircraft is one of 58 on order for Berlin. Airbus Defence & Space has flown its first Tranche 4 Eurofighter to have been produced for the German air force as part of Berlin's Project Quadriga acquisition. Conducted from the company's Manching final assembly site near Munich on 14 July, the milestone sortie involved a single-seat example with the service registration 34+02. "During the production flight acceptance test, Airbus test pilot Stefan Auer tested the fighter jet to its limits for more than an hour to evaluate basic flight characteristics, engine performance, flight control system, hydraulics and electrical systems," the company says. "The flight also assessed cockpit instruments and navigation systems; everything worked flawlessly," it adds. Placed in 2020, Germany's initial Quadriga order covers the delivery of 30 single- and eight two-seat Eurofighters. A first delivery will be made later this year, following the receipt of "upcoming type certification", with shipments to run through 2030. Berlin last year also signed a Tranche 5 contract for another 20 Eurofighters, with those jets to be delivered by 2034.