Eurofighter Typhoon DA6

DA6 was the programme's second two-seater and was built by EADS in Seville. It was intended to expand the performance envelope and to test the environmental and breathing systems, the MIDS data link and the helmet-mounted display. It first flew on 31 August 1996 with Alf de Miguel Gonzalez at the controls. From 20 July 1998 it carried out high-temperature trials at Moron, and in June 1999 a pilot cooling vest was flight tested. Icing trials in the climatic hangar at Boscombe Down were completed in January 2000, and an environmental systems campaign flown there together with DA1 finished in May that year. Voice command trials began in 2001. On 21 November 2002 the aircraft crashed some one hundred kilometres south of Madrid after a double engine flameout caused by compressor surges; both crew members ejected. DA6 had logged 326 flying hours over 362 sorties. DA1 was deployed to Spain from 8 April 2003 to cover its loss.