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Message: <blockquote data-quote="topkollek" data-source="post: 31455039" data-attributes="member: 510150">Timeline Context<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Original expectations: Work was supposed to progress relatively quickly after the 2021 contract (some early reports suggested initial aircraft flying within 1–2 years).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">By early 2024: Officials claimed they were nearly back on track (only ~6 months behind).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">By early 2025: The project was described as two years behind schedule. At that point, two aircraft were ~60% complete and three were ~40% complete. The first jet was then targeted for April 2025, with the rest by end of 2025.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reality (June 2026): First test flight achieved today — roughly 2–3 years later than initially hoped.</li> </ul>Other Notes<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Payments were made in stages ($13 million paid by early 2025, with the remaining ~$43.5 million due in installments until 2027). The economic situation made timely funding difficult.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">There were also some public/political questions about transparency and whether the project was still necessary amid economic hardship, but these appear to have been secondary to the practical delays.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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