Rendezvous with HALO – a report, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Release Date: 2009-03-05
On 24 January 2009, HALO (High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft), the new member of the research fleet belonging to the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), landed at its base airport in Oberpfaffenhofen.
The aeroplane, a Gulfstream G550, had previously been converted from a business jet to a modern climate and atmospheric research aircraft. On 26 January 2009, the aeroplane took off on a two-hour flight in order to receive its German airworthiness certification.
During the flight, all of the devices on board were checked once again. The previous flagship of the DLR's research fleet in Oberpfaffenhofen, the Falcon, rendezvoused with HALO high above the Zugspitze to welcome it as a member of DLR's research fleet.
The pilots and scientists of the 31 research institutes who supported the construction of the Euro 62 million jet have waited a long time for this day. Many of DLR’s employees are using their lunch break to watch the takeoff of the eagerly awaited aeroplane.
While the technician on duty asks his colleagues to leave the apron, the film crew that has arrived for the airworthiness certification flight is allowed to enter the hangar and even survey HALO from the inside. The team is here to document the preparations for the flight and be present when HALO is tested and meets DLR’s Falcon research aircraft above the Alps for a special photo shoot.
The new research aircraft, painted in brilliant white, is just about to commence its important first flight under the management of DLR.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | German Aerospace Center (DLR) |
| Country: | Germany |
| Url: | http://www.dlr.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10/60_read-15887/ |