The Chief of the Staff of the Spanish Air Force flew Eurofighter Typhoon "Fantastic, it is marvellous".
Madrid, 16 October 2001
The Spanish Chief of the Air Staff, General del Aire D. Eduardo González Gallarza, visited the EADS-CASA facilities at Getafe to check personally the stage of the Eurofighter Development Programme and carry out a flight on the Spanish DA6 prototype, under the umbrella of the planned flight tests operations.
Following a detailed explanation of the flight test to be accomplished, given by the Chief of Flight Operations at Getafe, Eduardo Cuadrado, the aircraft took off at 10:40 a.m. The flight lasted 55 minutes and it reached 1.6 mach raising up to 36.000 feet. Once back to the base General González Gallarza highlighted the impressing thrust and the great acceleration capabilities as well as the superb manoeuvrability and the simplicity of the flight operations. The Chief of the Air Staff is an experienced pilot, having flown different combat aircraft along his career, beginning with the F-86 Sabre then F-104 Starfighter, F-4 Phantom and Mirage F-1, among others.
General Gonzalez Gallarza has been involved in the Eurofighter Programme since the beginning and he knows very well all the characteristics and flight capabilities of the aircraft, the advanced avionics and the excellent performances. The Eurofighter modern technology is the clear result of the development programme and the many hours of tests undertaken with the seven prototypes operated by the four EPCs. Eurofighter Typhoon will be the defence core of the Air Forces in the next future.
General González Gallarza also appreciated the stage of the final assembly line where the 87 aircraft to be delivered to the Spanish Air Force will be assembled. The delivery of the first series production aircraft will take place during the second half of 2002.
Son of a pioneer and hero of the Spanish Air Force, he has also achieved a brilliant carrier, since he left the Air Force Academy in 1959 up to his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff in April, 20th 2001. He has been awarded different decorations as the St. Hermenegildo's Royal and Military Order Crosses and the Aeronautics, Military and Navy Honour Mentions.
With revenues amounting to EUR 24.2 billion and a workforce of 100,000, EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is the largest European aerospace company and the No 2 worldwide. It is active in the sectors of commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft as well as defence technology and services. Among others, EADS holds 80 percent of Airbus, 75 percent of the space company Astrium, 100 percent of the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, 43 percent in the Eurofighter programme and 37,5 percent in the missile company MBDA.
Serena Di Martino
EADS CASA Military Aircraft
Communications
Tel. +34.91.585 7604
Fax +34.91.585 7264
Serena.dimartino@casa.eads.net
