How are brand new airplanes tested?

Question

I’ve often wondered, once a factory builds a brand new airplane do they fly them before the client purchases them? Who is the person what would “test fly” them to make sure all systems are good to go?

In: 4

Answer 1

Read the Autobiography of Chuck Yeager called ‘The Right Stuff’. He was the first test pilot to break the sound barrier and test flew more experimental aircraft than most people alive ever. It’s actually pretty interesting read, he got shot down over Europe in WW2, lots of interesting stuff aside from the flight stuff too.