The final test flight of Santa’s sleigh has been extended several hours. Flight engineers are testing ground based tracking and communication systems under adverse weather conditions.
These are not critical tests. They are just trying to make sure Santa can communicate in storms that he might encounter later tonight.
We still anticipate the sleigh returning in plenty of time to get it ready for Santa to launch on time.
The final test flight of Santa’s Sleigh is now officially scheduled to depart in about 12 hours. North Pole Flight Command has announced that veteran pilot Elf Ace McHenry will take command of the flight.
Being the final test flight pilot is a singular honor for elves who serve as part of the North Pole Air Force. It is generally recognized that the pilot chosen for this duty as distinguished themselves above others during the course of the year in helping to contribute to the cause of Santa.
To get the honor is to more or less win a spot in the Test Pilot Hall of Fame at the North Pole.
The honor is a long time coming for Commander McHenry, who has served in the North Pole Air Force for many years. He has long been considered an elite pilot, one of the very best that Santa has.
We will, as always, track the path of the final test flight of Santa’s sleigh when it launches from the North Pole.
Over in the sleigh barn a very special version of Santa’s sleigh is being worked on: the actual sleigh that Santa will use.
Dozens of sleighs are made over the course of the year as the new sleigh design is developed, tested and refined. With each flight pilots come back with new information and suggestions. By the time Santa actually gets to fly the sleigh it has become the most tested flying sleigh on the face of the earth.
This final sleigh is being worked on today. It has been painted. It has been customized in every detail to Santa’s every preference. It will sit there in the sleigh barn until the Final Test Flight takes off on December 23rd. It will be flown around the world one final time by one lucky test pilot.
It is scheduled to return late in the afternoon of December 23rd. When it returns it will be washed, waxed and loaded for Santa.
Santa will launch according to the countdown on every Official North Pole website.
You can follow the path of the final test flight right here on our map page.
Santa’s sleigh will be heading back to Europe after it was revealed today that some design flaws were detected. Engineers are working on some minor changes to the sleigh and will have new prototypes constructed with the changes in design before the sleigh gets to Europe for additional testing.
It is not expected that the change will result in any delays to testing of the sleigh.
Test pilots of Santa’s sleigh say that the testing period has gone remarkably well. They are hoping to convince Santa to come out to the field to do some test flights himself very soon.
In talking with Santa’s staff, however, it is not something that Santa will have time for. He is putting as much time in as he can in visiting with children via video chat. So we’ll see if we can get him in the sleigh sometime soon.
By the way, it’s normal for Santa NOT to even see the sleigh in the weeks before he takes off. He trusts his team at Research and Development and the test pilots to get the job done.
That being said, Santa has been more involved with the design of the sleigh this year than he has been in many decades.
Santa is a very avid aviator. He loves to fly. He also hold many world records, for speed, distance and endurance.
We are also pleased to report that we have now many more additional reindeer who have volunteered for duty since their return to the North Pole.
Flights are going very well.
