Eurofighter Typhoon ISPA1

ISPA1 is the Tranche 1 two-seater built by BAE Systems at Warton, the first of the Instrumented Series Production Aircraft. These airframes are diverted from the production line like the IPAs but carry less telemetry, use the internal gun bay for avionics and can be returned to production configuration; legally they belong to the operating nations and are only loaned to industry. ISPA1 first flew on 11 May 2004. On 3 February 2005 it crossed the Atlantic with a BAE Systems and an RAF pilot, staging through Lajes, Bangor, Little Rock and Cannon to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, accompanied by Harrier GR7s and Tornado GR4s from RAF Coningsby; the return leg began once exercise High Rider 10 was complete. From then on it served as a testbed for the DASS, the Striker helmet and laser designator pod integration. In June 2009 it was returned to production configuration and handed over to the RAF.