First Flight of Advanced Controls Evaluator (ACE)
First Flight of Advanced Controls Evaluator (ACE)
Today, 03 September 2026, marks a historic milestone for ITPS Canada: the first flight of the Advanced Controls Evaluator (ACE), the culmination of our Variable Stability System (VSS) program.
Spearheaded by Giorgio Clementi, Executive Chairman & Chief Technology Officer, and Bennett Leong, Project Lead, ACE stands as one of the most significant capabilities ITPS Canada has developed. ACE is a four-axis digital fly-by-wire Variable Stability System designed to let instructors configure pitch, roll, yaw and throttle response. Once introduced into training, students will be able to experience and compare multiple aircraft behaviours during a single jet sortie. Its first flight is not simply a program milestone; it is a defining moment in the capability of ITPS, and our contribution to the global flight test community.
An achievement of this magnitude is the result of many hands and many years of dedication. We extend our sincere thanks to the ground crews, telemetry team, Flight Test Instrumentation experts, ALSE, and Operations staff whose precision and discipline made today’s flight possible, and to everyone across ITPS who contributed to this program from its earliest stages through to execution.
Today’s flight reflects the standard ITPS Canada holds itself to, and a clear signal of where we are headed. We are proud of what this team has accomplished, and we look forward to what ACE will bring to the future of flight test training.
