First flight of the CRJ200 SF

US-based conversion specialist Aeronautical Engineers, Inc completed the first flight of the freighter-converted CRJ200.

As we do whenever a new freighter type flies for the first time, we will welcome the newcomer with a few photos.

AEI launched the program in cooperation with Bombardier (the CRJ’s manufacturer) in 2013. At first the launch was speculative, but in 2014 US-based IFL Group signed up as the launch customer for the program. AEI now has a total of forty-five firm orders from eight customers — IFL Group, Aeronaves TSM, and six unidentified.

The first flight late last week was followed by two more test flights, marking the final stage in the certification process, and AEI says it expects to receive a Supplemental Type Certificate for the CRJ passenger-to-freighter conversion within a few weeks.

And now for a bit of photo history…