Brazilian pilot flies Gripen E for first time

Major pilot Cristiano de Oliveira Peres becomes first Brazilian Air Force pilot to fly Saab Gripen E.

On August 20, 2020 a Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira - FAB) pilot flew the new F-39 Gripen E fighter aircraft for the first time. Major pilot Cristiano de Oliveira Peres took off from the Saab plant in Linköping, Sweden, and flew over the Baltic Sea for about 50 minutes. The activity is part of the conduct flight validation and data verification of the aircraft.

According to the FAB, the preparation for this flight was very intense. Cristiano has been in Linköping since January and has conducted a series of training sessions to qualify to fly the jet. They included studying the Gripen E technical documentation and many hours of simulator.

For Major Cristiano, making the first flight was a great responsibility considering the importance of the project for the Brazilian Air Force. "The Gripen E FAB 4100 is still a prototype, and it took a long time to prepare for that flight. But when I heard the landing authorization from the control tower, I was sure that all the effort was worth it. That’s why I decided to become a test pilot. I am grateful to the FAB for entrusting me with the mission of raising our flag in Swedish skies," he said.

The joint activities began in 2014 after the signing of the agreement for the development and production of 36 Gripen E/F aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force, including embedded systems, support and equipment. The platforms are developed and produced with the participation of Brazilian technicians and engineers. This integration is part of the technology transfer and aims to provide the necessary knowledge for the continuity of activities in Brazil.

Major Cristiano is part of the staff of the Flight Research and Test Institute (IPEV), under the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA). The purpose of IPEV is to provide specialized technological services in the field of flight tests, aeronautical instrumentation and data telemetry to support the research, development and certification of aeronautical products, as well as to train specialized personnel in flight tests.

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Written by Matteo Sanzani

Source: Brazilian Air Force

Images: Brazilian Air Force, Saab