BAe Experimental Aircraft Programme
British Aerospace · United Kingdom · first flew 1986 · fighter
The BAe Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) was a British technology demonstrator that flew in 1986, proving the canard-delta configuration and fly-by-wire systems that would be used in the Eurofighter Typhoon. It was the direct forerunner of the Typhoon's design.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British canard-delta Eurofighter technology demonstrator
- No horizontal tail — close-coupled foreplanes only
- Fly-by-wire unstable agile fighter prototype
Almost identical in planform to the Eurofighter Typhoon — twin-engine canard-delta with a single fin — but lacks PIRATE IRST and has different intakes; close inspection reveals different detail.
Specifications
- The BAe Experimental Aircraft Programme has a length of 14.7 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.76 m (39 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Funded jointly by BAe, the UK Ministry of Defence, and European partners, the EAP flew for the first time on 8 August 1986 with test pilot David Eagles at the controls. It validated the aerodynamic and control concepts required for the Eurofighter programme.
Variants
Only one aircraft was built; it served solely as a technology demonstrator.
Where you'll see it
Operated only for BAe and MoD flight research; the single aircraft is preserved at the RAF Museum Cosford in the United Kingdom.
Related aircraft
- BAe ATP
- BAe 146-300
- BAe Sea Harrier FA2
- British Aerospace Harrier II GR.7
- Aero L-59 Super Albatros
- Atlas Cheetah
- BAe Hawk 200
- Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle
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