We got a break in the weather and here you can see the Switchblade Team prepping the vehicle for some initial engine run-up tests. We warm up the engine to get the fluids up to temperature, check the cockpit radios, verify the test pilot has clear communication channels, hook up GoPro cameras, etc. There are easily over a dozen steps and checks that need to be done before each test. In addition to those, the test pilot has his own checklist.
With the weather challenges, we got very creative, and combined tests during runs by stepping the speeds – as the test pilot completed one taxi test at 65 mph, he went directly into the next test at 70 mph while on the same run. Not exactly ideal, but we pulled it off. The team worked quickly in-between tests, to get us ready for the next run while the weather held.
WORKING QUICKLY WHILE THE WEATHER HELD
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