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The first test flights were seat of the pants affairs performed by the best and bravest pilots. Now, many millions of dollars are at stake, possibly even the company's survival. Every detail of the program is well conceived and carried out. But the basic goals of a test flight program remain the same.

The flight test process begins long before the momentous first flight. By the time the airplane actually flies it will have been subjected to a bewildering number of tests already.

Test pilots with superior flying skills are selected. They must be ready for life threatening surprises and be able to lead the way for future pilots. They will work closely with the engineers from the outset to better predict the likely handling and performance characteristics. They are quite knowledgeable about the aircraft before it is even built.

New aircraft are usually designed with specific customers in mind, whether they are commercial or military. Each will have performance and capability requirements that must be met. Proving and quantifying these requirements are an integral part of any test flight process. Payload, take off and landing distances, speed and fuel burn rates are some of the important test areas.

The prototype is a beehive of activity as it is assembled. As each system becomes functional it goes through static testing. The structural components are often tested to destruction in hydraulic test rigs. Any structural problems in the airframe, such as cracking, must be discovered and redesigned during static testing. Landing gear is tested in test rigs then performs function tests on the aircraft. Control surfaces and other moving parts also go through similar processes. Realistic passenger evacuation trials are carried out. Once the avionics and electronics are fully tested and debugged the aircraft is deemed to be airworthy and released for taxi trials.

Taxi trials let the test pilots get a "feel" for the new aircraft. Some of the parameters future pilots will need to know are determined, such as minimum takeoff speed. Operation of the engines, nose wheel steering, braking and control surfaces are tested at increasing speeds without risking the aircraft. Inevitable deficiencies are corrected as they are discovered. Usually more than one aircraft is used to facilitate this process. The stage is set for the first flight once the pilots and engineers are satisfied.

The first flight marks the beginning of a lengthy and sometimes dangerous flight test program.

Understandably,

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