(Above) Eurofighter Typhoon Development Aircraft 4 will be displayed in pride of place in AirSpace, during Summer 2009.
Imperial War Museum Duxford has taken delivery of a prototype aeroplane used in the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Typhoon Development Aircraft 4 (DE4) - ZH590 was gifted to the Museum by the Ministry of Defence in 2008 and used in the early stages of the development of the multi role combat aircraft.
The DE4 is an extremely agile jet with a capability that makes it the natural successor to several aircraft already on display in the Museum’s newest exhibition, AirSpace, including the Harrier, Jaguar and Tornado.
“We are delighted to receive the Typhoon and very much look forward to displaying this exceptional aircraft at Duxford,” said Richard Ashton, Director of Imperial War Museum Duxford. “I would like to thank RAF Coningsby for their sterling support and to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to the Ministry of Defence.”
The delivery of the aircraft from RAF Coningsby. © IWM Duxford
It was the RAF’s Recovery Team at Coningsby who carefully disassembled the aircraft in situ before transporting it to Duxford. They will now work with the Museum’s Conservation Department to re-assemble it for display this summer.
A British-built two-seater, Typhoon DA4 made its maiden flight from Warton,Lancashire on March 14 1997. It was flown for the first time by an RAF crew in April1998, and in the same year flew in formation with the Red Arrows at the RoyalInternational Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.
In December 2001, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, the UK’s former Chief of the Air Staff and now Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, became the first non-RAF test pilot to fly the Eurofighter when he took control of the DA4 during a 60-minute flight from BAE Systems’ Warton facility. During this flight, the Typhoon achieved speeds in excess of 900mph.
Conservation of the aircraft at Duxford. © IWM Duxford
Developed under the auspices of Europe’s leading aerospace companies, Eurofighter Typhoon is now the aircraft of choice for the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We are pleased to support the Imperial War Museum with the move of DA4 to Duxford,” said Group Captain Hitchcock, Station Commander, RAF Coningsby,
“Typhoon is a very important aircraft for the RAF; and an exciting aircraft for aviation enthusiasts. Members of the public now have an opportunity to see one ‘in the flesh’.”
