At about 13:30 EDT, a Challenger II experimental airplane began to flutter and went out of control. The aircraft received substantial damage but the pilot was not injured. The pilot said he was in phase 1 of the flight test program for the homebuilt aircraft, which had accumulated about 7 total flight hours. He was attempting to fly the aircraft to the calculated never exceed speed of 120 mph, but as he hit 115 mph, the aircraft began to flutter and went out of control. He activated the ballistic safety parachute and landed safely.
Apr. 7, Astatula, Fla. / Challenger II
At about 13:30 EDT, a Challenger II experimental airplane began to flutter and went out of control. The aircraft received substantial damage but the pilot was not injured. The pilot said he was in phase 1 of the flight test program for the homebuilt aircraft, which had accumulated about 7 total flight hours. He was attempting to fly the aircraft to the calculated never exceed speed of 120 mph, but as he hit 115 mph, the aircraft began to flutter and went out of control. He activated the ballistic safety parachute and landed safely....
Key Takeaways:
- An experimental Challenger II aircraft experienced flutter and went out of control during a Phase 1 flight test.
- The incident occurred as the pilot attempted to reach the aircraft's never-exceed speed, with flutter beginning at 115 mph.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot deployed a ballistic safety parachute and landed safely without injury.
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