Czech-Built Evektor EV-55 Makes First Flight

Stephen Pope

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 11:05 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Evektor EV-55 Outback turboprop twin successfully completed its maiden flight in the Czech Republic, seven years after the project's inception.
The EV-55 is a multi-purpose, high-wing, twin-engine turboprop designed to carry up to 14 passengers or 4,000 pounds of cargo, suitable for operating from short, unpaved strips and at high altitudes.
Targeting a global market, the aircraft is positioned as a replacement for aging piston twins and a competitor to the Cessna 208 Caravan, offering versatile passenger, cargo, and combined cabin configurations.

See a mistake? Contact us.

A prototype of the Evektor EV-55 Outback turboprop twin made its first flight from Kunovice Airport in the Czech Republic last Friday, delivering on a promise made by the fledgling aircraft manufacturer when it launched the project seven years ago.** **

Evektor test pilot Josef Charvat and military pilot Major Jiri Hana flew the airplane, – an EV-55M model – for 30 minutes, reaching a speed of 125 knots at an altitude of 3,500 feet.