ILA 2000: Perhaps the biggest challenge for Eurofighter display pilot Keith Hartley is managing what he calls the aircraft's "staggering" thrust to weight ratio and acceleration.

After a takeoff roll of only 750 meters, Eurofighter is accelerating at 30 kts per second-which Hartley says it can do easily at any time. At a show, one has to concentrate on containing its speed and staying in the display box."This is an easy display to fly in Eurofighter," said Hartley. "But even with full back stick at 7.25 G, it is still accelerating rapidly."

The display routine (above) is designed to show Eurofighter's ability to accelerate (especially in the vertical), and to manouver in surprisingly little space-the display uses only half the airfield.

Highlights are the loop from take off, and the slow (but tight) 360 degree turn that Eurofighter exits at 180 kts straight into another rapid-acceleration loop.

©Show News 2000