Sino Swearingen Aircraft (SSA) has resumed flight testing of the SJ30-2, aiming for US certification of the light business jet in the third quarter of next year.
Flight testing of the first production prototype resumed in May after installation of a data acquisition system. This marked the start of a 14-month certification programme, which had been delayed while San Antonio, Texas-based SSA secured extra funding from its Taiwanese backers.
The first SJ30-2 has logged more than 20h since flying resumed, says SSA, and is still conducting development tests. These include stability and control checks; engine shutdowns and air starts; and flap, slat and anti-skid brake testing.
Activity this month includes ground tests in a tilt rig to establish unusable fuel limits and check fuel system functioning. Flying resumes in mid-June with airspeed calibration tests and more performance and controllability checks.
Source: Flight International