PODGORZYN, Poland -- The LAR 1 single-engine jet from the Polish company Flaris took to the skies for the first time on April 5. The aircraft made 26 takeoffs and landings at Zielona Gora Airport near Babimost, Poland, in variable atmospheric conditions. Flaris said that wind conditions were unexpectedly gusty with a crosswind component, and that this confirmed the effectiveness of the aircraft's controls during acceleration, takeoff, climb, descent, and landing.
The purpose of the tests conducted on the LAR 1 has been to develop the optimal take-off and landing configuration and to check the efficacy of the control system and stability.
"It was a difficult test for the plane and the whole Flaris team", said Rafal Ladzinski, Head of the Flaris Program. "The difficulty is that Flaris LAR 1 does not have a model. It is an airplane with an innovative airframe configuration."
The LAR 1 can takeoff and land on short grass airstrips. Preliminary specifications call for a range of more than 3,000 kilometers.
"The price of Flaris LAR 1 and its operation costs will be a quarter of current market prices for planes in the light jet (LJ) category," said Ladzinski.