Eurofighter Typhoon DA-2 ZH588 in full reheat climb, captured by Stuart H. Bourne. This British development aircraft, pivotal in early flight trials, now hangs suspended at the RAF Museum Hendon.
© Stuart H Bourne / Quality Aviation Photos International.
Eurofighter Typhoon DA-2 (ZH588), photographed in dramatic full reheat climb by Stuart H. Bourne, represents the second of seven development aircraft built for the Eurofighter program. Rolled out in August 1993 at BAE Warton, DA-2 was the first British Typhoon to fly, launching its maiden sortie on 6 April 1994. Initially powered by RB199 Mk104E engines from the retired BAe EAP, it later received definitive EJ200 turbofans.
Over its 13-year test career, DA-2 logged 652 sorties and 614 flight hours, contributing to flight envelope expansion, carefree handling trials, and avionics development. It achieved Mach 2, 50,000 ft altitude, and participated in air-to-air refueling, spin recovery, and high-speed flutter trials. DA-2 was flown by 20 different pilots, including RAF and Eurofighter project test crews.
Retired in January 2007, the aircraft was dismantled and transported to RAF Museum Hendon, where it now hangs in the Milestones of Flight gallery—preserved as a symbol of British aerospace innovation.
