10/02/2026
A different aircraft. A different set of characteristics. The same disciplined approach to flight test.
Qualitative Evaluation is an important part of developing competent and safe Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers at the International Test Pilots School.
Flying an unfamiliar aircraft requires students to quickly build an understanding of how it behaves, identify its defining characteristics,
assess handling qualities and workload, and communicate those observations with technical precision.
That is why exposure to different aircraft matters.
The Jet Aircraft Museum's Canadair CT-133 Silver Star "Red Knight" provides an exceptional opportunity to step outside the familiar and apply flight test methodology to a classic jet aircraft.
The objective is not simply to fly another type. It is to develop the ability to observe, question, compare and evaluate with discipline, sound judgment and a strong safety mindset.
Each new aircraft adds another reference point, another set of handling characteristics, and another opportunity to build the adaptability and technical confidence required to evaluate increasingly advanced aerospace systems.
Our thanks to the Jet Aircraft Museum and its team in London, Ontario for their collaboration in keeping Canadian aviation history flying while helping develop the next generation of competent and safe flight test professionals.
