- Title: GERMANY: GERMAN AIRFORCE UNVEILS ITS FIRST EUROFIGHTER JET
- Date: 30th April 2004
- Summary: (EU) LAAGE, GERMANY (APRIL 30, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF EUROFIGHTER ON TARMAC DURING CEREMONY, OFFICIAL SPEAKING 0.04 2. CLOSE-UP OF EUROFIGHTER 0.08 3. OFFICIAL SPEAKING 0.13 4. PAN: MILITARY OFFICIALS GATHERED 0.20 5. WS: AIRFORCE PERSONNEL STANDING; GERMAN, SPANISH, ITALIAN, BRITISH AND NATO FLAGS IN BACKGROUND 0.25
- Embargoed: 15th May 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LAAGE, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVAFXNZHIK7E4U6MRMT6FOC6SGH
- Story Text: Only hours before ten new countries join the
European Union, the German air force has presented its
first Eurofighter.
The aircraft took off from an air base in Laage
near the Baltic Sea coast on Friday (April 30).
Pilot Peter Steiniger was full of praise for the plane
which, according to airforce-technology.com, "is
constructed of carbon fire composites, glass-reinforced
plastic, aluminium lithium, titanium and aluminium casting."
"Its very easy to fly it, easier than a Mig and easier
than a Phantom because this plane is being supported by
computers during the flight and of course it is kept in the
air with the computer because it is aerodynamically
unstable," Steiniger said.
According to airforce-technology.com, "an overall
production contract for 620 aircraft was signed in January
1998, with 232 for the UK, 180 for Germany, 121 for Italy
and 87 for Spain.
Initial orders have been placed for 148 aircraft:
Germany (44), Italy (29), Spain (20) and the UK (55). Prime
customer is the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management
Agency (NETMA), representing the four governments. Series
production of the aircraft is underway at EADS Military
Aircraft (Germany), BAE Systems, Alenia Aeronautica and
EADS CASA (Spain)."
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None