Showing posts with label Boeing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boeing. Show all posts

2013-05-04

Boeing X-51A WaveRider test flight

Experimental aircraft speeds to more than 3,000 mph in test flight - latimes.com



May 3, 2013, 10:02 a.m.
A lightning-quick experimental aircraft made history when it sped more than 3,000 mph above the Pacific Ocean in a test flight, reigniting decades-long efforts to develop a vehicle that could travel faster than a speeding bullet.

Boeing X-51 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Boeing X-51 (also known as X-51 WaveRider) is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic (Mach 6, approximately 4,000 miles per hour (6,400 km/h) at altitude) flight testing. It successfully completed its first powered flight on 26 May 2010 and also achieved the longest duration flight at speeds over Mach 5.[1]

The X-51 is named "WaveRider" because it uses its shockwaves to add lift. The program is run as a cooperative effort of the United States Air Force, DARPA, NASA, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The program is managed by the Aerospace Systems Directorate within the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).[3][4] The X-51 had its first captive flight attached to a B-52 in December 2009.



Boeing: Boeing X-51A WaveRider Sets Record with Successful 4th Flight

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress from Edwards Air Force Base released the X-51A from 50,000 feet above the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range at 10:55 a.m. Pacific time. After the B-52 released the X-51A, a solid rocket booster accelerated the vehicle to about Mach 4.8 before the booster and a connecting interstage were jettisoned. The vehicle reached Mach 5.1 powered by its supersonic combustion scramjet engine, which burned all its JP-7 jet fuel. The X-51A made a controlled dive into the Pacific Ocean at the conclusion of its mission. The test fulfilled all mission objectives.

The flight was the fourth X-51A test flight completed for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. It exceeded the previous record set by the program in 2010.


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2010-10-31

CSAR DiscRotor -- DARPA/Boeing Retractable-Blade Helicopter

Boeing Develops Helicopter-Airplane Hybrid for DARPA



As part of a DARPA initiative, Boeing is developing a search-and-rescue aircraft that combines a helicopter's hovering capabilities with an airplane's long flight range. According to Aviation Week, Boeing will test a 20-percent scale model of the disc-rotor aircraft, called the CSAR DiscRotor, in a wind tunnel sometime next year.


The aircraft takes off vertically like a helicopter, with telescoping rotor blades extended, then converts to fixed-wing forward flight by retrating the blades into the disc, which is then stopped. The aircraft the flies on its swept wing and dual ducted propellers.



DARPA - Tactical Technology Office (TTO)



The goal of the DiscRotor Compound Helicopter program is to design and demonstrate the enabling technologies required to develop a new type of compound helicopter capable of high-efficiency hover, high-speed flight, and seamless transition between these flight states.
[...]
An aircraft capable of long range high speed (300-400 kts) and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)/hover will satisfy an ongoing military interest, bridging the gap in helicopter escort and insertion missions by providing survivability, mobility, and responsiveness for troop and cargo insertion.


High-Speed VTOL Goes for a Spin


Developing a mechanism that will reliability and repeatably retract and extend the blades under flight loads (including centripetal forces) is the central technical challenge of the DiscRotor program,


The DiscRotor has an integrated propulsion system using two turboshaft engines fitted with fans so they can also generate forward thrust. Shaft power goes to the main gearbox to power the rotor and a pair of wing-mounted, cross-shafted ducted propellers that provide the majority of the thrust in fixed-wing mode.




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2010-08-09

Boeing's Unmanned Spy Planes

Boeing Phantom Work

The Phantom Works division is the main research and development arm of The Boeing Company. Founded by McDonnell Douglas before the merger with Boeing, its primary focus had been development of advanced military products and technologies. After the merger, research and development expanded to cover commercial and space applications as well. Phantom Works has been a driving factor behind nearly all of the company's large contracts, including the upcoming X-45.


Phantom Ray: Boeing unveils spy plane of the future

14th May 2010
It may look like a futuristic starfighter, but this sleek gun-metal craft is Boeing's latest unmanned spy plane.

Called the Phantom Ray, the cutting-edge unmanned airborne system (UAS) was unveiled at a ceremony in St Louis yesterday.

The sleek craft has a 50ft wingspan, measures 36ft long and has a gross weight of 36,500lbs. It operates at an altitude of 40,000ft, which is 10,000ft higher than the average long-haul commercial airliner. It will cruise comfortably at a speed of 614mph, or 0.8mach, just shy of the speed of sound.




Phantom Ray makes its debut in St. Louis

“Phantom Ray offers a host of options for our customers as a test bed for advanced technologies, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack and autonomous aerial refueling – the possibilities are nearly endless,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.





Phantom Eye: Boeing's new unmanned hydrogen-powered spy plane

14th July 2010
With its short, squat body and massive wingspan this is an unmanned jet with a difference - it's powered by hydrogen.

Boeing's Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system will be able to stay aloft at 65,000 feet for up to four days.

Phantom Eye is designed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions while remaining at high altitude. It will produce only water as a by-product.



Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance aircraft unveiled


"Phantom Eye is the first of its kind and could open up a whole new market in collecting data and communications," Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works, said today at the unveiling ceremony in St. Louis. "It is a perfect example of turning an idea into a reality. It defines our rapid prototyping efforts and will demonstrate the art-of-the-possible when it comes to persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The capabilities inherent in Phantom Eye's design will offer game-changing opportunities for our military, civil and commercial customers."





Sources
Boeing Phantom Works - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Phantom_Works
Phantom Ray: Boeing unveils spy plane of the future | Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1277235/Phantom-Ray-Boeing-unveils-spy-plane-future.html
Boeing Feature Story: Phantom Ray makes its debut in St. Louis
http://www.boeing.com/Features/2010/05/bds_feat_phantomRay_05_10_10.html
YouTube - boeing unveil phantom eye unmanned spy plane 12th july 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97lvvSrgkiY
Phantom Eye: Boeing's new unmanned hydrogen-powered spy plane | Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1294404/Phantom-Eye-Boeings-new-unmanned-hydrogen-powered-spy-plane.html
Boeing Feature Story: Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance aircraft unveiled
http://www.boeing.com/Features/2010/07/bds_feat_phantom_eye_07_12_10.html
YouTube - Boeing Phantom Ray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEqBvvvSgK0

Related
The Boeing Company: Defense, Space & Security
http://www.boeing.com/bds/
Boeing's Phantom Ray to fly in December | Military Tech - CNET News
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13639_3-20004554-42.html
Boeing taps hydrogen for Phantom Eye UAV | Cutting Edge - CNET News
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20010294-76.html
Boeing Phantom Ray - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Phantom_Ray
Boeing Phantom Eye - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Phantom_Eye

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2008-12-05

Boeing A160 unmanned helicopter

Special Operations Gets Hummingbird UAV
Special Operations Gets Hummingbird UAV
The United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is in the process of deploying its first Boeing A160T Hummingbird unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The new UAV, developed by Boeing in conjunction with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) looks like a traditional helicopter but it goes higher, stays airborn longer, travels farther, and runs more quietly than any helicopter in current use. Its biggest bonus – it doesn’t have a pilot that could be shut down.
clipped from www.youtube.com
clipped from www.boeing.com
The Boeing Company logoA160 Hummingbird

The A160 Hummingbird Unmanned Aerial Vehicle looks like a helicopter but is unlike any other helicopter on the market today. It can reach higher altitudes, hover for longer periods of time, go greater distances and operate much more quietly than current helicopters. And it features a unique optimum speed rotor technology that enables the Hummingbird to adjust the RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) of the rotor blades at different altitudes and cruise speeds.

clipped from www.darpa.mil
TTO
#

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Related:
Special Operations Gets Hummingbird UAV
Boeing: Integrated Defense Systems - A160 Hummingbird
A160
A160 Hummingbird Warrior
Boeing Frontiers Online
$50M for A-160 Hummingbird UAV Concept Demonstrators
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2008-01-10

Boeing's X-48B blended wing body (BWB)


clipped from en.wikipedia.org
Boeing X-48

The X-48 is an experimental aircraft currently under development by Boeing and NASA for investigation into the characteristics of blended wing body aircraft, a type of flying wing.

clipped from www.nasa.gov
Researchers believe the X-48B will save 30 percent more fuel over contemporary aircraft.

Researchers believe that the unique design of the X-48B will save 30 percent more fuel over contemporary aircraft of similar size and weight. Credit: NASA
> Larger Image

X-48B Blended Wing Body

The X-48B lacks the traditional tube and wing shape which has been the hallmark of aircraft design for the last 100 years. Credit: NASA
> Larger Image

X-48B Blended Wing Body

The X-48B soars over Edwards Air Force Base, where it flew its first flight on July 20, 2007. During the test, the plane was piloted remotely by engineers on the ground. Credit: NASA
> Larger Image


X-48B Blended Wing Body
At NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, an 8.5 percent scale model of the X-48B is in the wind tunnel ready for stability and control testing. Credit: NASA
> Larger Image

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Related:
NASA - Time Magazine Recognizes the X-48B
NASA - Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
Boeing X-48 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NASA Dryden X-48B Blended Wing Body Photo Collection
Boeing: Boeing Phantom Works to Lead Research on X-48B Blended Wing Body Concept
Airliners.net Military: Boeing To Begin Ground Testing X48B
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