Tue, May 11, 2010
'Scaled Down B-2' Is An Advance Technology Testbed
It looks like a fighter-sized version of the B-2, but the pilot
stays on the ground. Boeing on Monday unveiled the Phantom Ray
unmanned airborne system, a test bed for advanced technologies.
“We are on a fast track, and first flight is in
sight,” said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works.
“Phantom Ray is on schedule to fly in December, about two
years after this project began. This is a tremendous accomplishment
for Boeing and the Phantom Ray team.”
Phantom Ray is scheduled to begin taxi tests this summer. The
first flight in December will be followed by up to nine additional
flights over approximately six months. Phantom Ray is designed to
support potential missions that may include intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses;
electronic attack; strike; and autonomous aerial refueling.
“The initial flights will take Phantom Ray through its
paces for the flight test profile. Beyond that, the missions and
systems tested will be determined by future warfighter
needs,” said Craig Brown, Phantom Ray program manager for
Boeing.
Phantom Ray, which evolved from the X-45C program, is one of
several programs in the Phantom Works division of Boeing Defense,
Space & Security. Phantom Works uses rapid prototyping
initiatives to design, develop and build advanced aircraft and then
demonstrate their capabilities.
Key Phantom Ray suppliers include General Electric-Aviation
(propulsion and power distribution), Honeywell (brake system),
Woodward-HRT (flight control actuation system), Crane Hydro-Aire
(brake controls) and Heroux-Devtek (landing gear).
More News
Aviation Governance Secured...At Least For a While The National Business Aviation Association similarly applauded the passage of the FAA's recent reauthorization, contentedly recou>[...]
Emphasis On Growing The Future of Aviation Through Concentration on 'AFFORDABLE FLYERS' It's been a number of years since the Latest Edition of Jim Campbell's HUGE SportPlane Resou>[...]
Amazilia Aerospace GmbH, Develops Digital Flight Control, Flight Guidance And Vehicle Management Systems Textron eAviation has acquired substantially all the assets of Amazilia Aer>[...]
Honeywell's Primus Brings New Tools and Niceties for Hawker Operators Hawker 4000 business jet operators have a new installation on the table, now that the FAA has granted an STC f>[...]
Company Celebrates Niche-but-Important Advancement in Industry Standards Echodyne has announced full integration of its proprietary 'EchoFlight' radar into the e American Aerospace>[...]