The Corvus Racer 312 TriGear took to the sky for the first time today before the Corvus test flight team from Badaling Airport in Beijing. The flight marks the beginning of a 3-day flight test program that will finalize the last technical details of the first "made in China" Racer, with the first delivery scheduled for early 2014.

The new member of Racer family, Racer 312 took off in Beijing Badaling airport at 14:38 local time. After approximately 8 minutes, it landed at 14:46 local time at the same airport.

Test pilot Mr. Pal Kovacs, a legendary test pilot from Hungary, performed required system and structure tests. Thorough system by system and equipment tests followed after the aircraft returning to the hangar for a check-up and minor modification.

"Today is truly a proud and historic day for the Corvus Aerospace team in Suzhou China, who has worked tirelessly to design and build the Racer 312 - the aircraft that will change the ultra-light and LSA category in the world", said Corvus Aerospace (Suzhou) President and Chief Executive Officer Huang Guangming. "The entire team worked over 13 months, and today we gathered here to see the first take off of this new aircraft for the first time. The joy and excitement is beyond my expression. I look forward to be back in Suzhou soon, and share this moment with the entire team at home."

Powered by one Rotax 912 ULS engine, the first Racer 312 will conduct a 3-day test flight program, by a Hungarian-Chinese crew.

The Racer 312, the 'junior' version of the well known Red Bull Air Race contestant Racer 540, has a wing span of 8.33m, fuselage length of 6.62m, empty weight of 295.2kg, maximum take off weight of 472.5kg (600kg for LSA standard). The never exceed speed is over 340km/h; with 2 passengers on board, the maximum cruising speed is 280km/hour. With 2 fuel tanks full, total 108 liter of regular gas, the aircraft has a maximum range of 1850 km.

Corvus Aerospace (Suzhou) is on track to deliver 4 Racer 312 to the European market in November 2013. Racer 312 is undergoing certification process in Europe, USA, and China, as these are the key markets for this product.