Successful first flight for the third Gripen E aircraft
Monday 10 June 2019, test pilot Jakob Högberg performed the first flight with the third Gripen E test aircraft, designated 39-10. At 1:41 p.m, the aircraft took off from Saab's airfield in Linköping. The main purpose of the flight, which lasted for 57 minutes, was to confirm that the aircraft performed in the same way as the two previous Gripen E aircraft.
“During the flight I tested all the basic systems in the aircraft to see the handling qualities, the gear and engine for example. An first flight is always a first flight, but it was perhaps not a very eventful one as the aircraft flew just like its siblings, which is excellent of course. In summary, we had a nice hour in the nice weather today,” Jakob Högberg said.