Wed, May 04, 2011
Aircraft Reaches 7,500 Feet, 178 Knots
Boeing's Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS) successfully
completed its first flight April 27 at NASA's Dryden Flight
Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The 17-minute flight
took place following a series of high-speed taxi tests in March
that validated ground guidance, navigation and control and verified
mission planning, pilot interface and operational procedures.
Phantom Ray flew to 7,500 feet and reached a speed of 178
knots.
"This day has been two-and-a-half years in the making," said
Darryl Davis, president, Boeing Phantom Works. "It's the beginning
of providing our customers with a test bed to develop future
unmanned systems technology, and a testament to the capabilities
resident within Boeing. Just as follow-on tests will expand Phantom
Ray's flight envelope, they also will help Boeing expand its
presence in the unmanned systems market."
The flight demonstrated Phantom Ray's basic airworthiness,
setting the stage for additional flights in the next few weeks.
These company-funded flights will prepare Phantom Ray to support
potential missions that may include intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic
attack; strike; and autonomous air refueling.
"The first flight moves us farther into the next phase of
unmanned aircraft," said Craig Brown, Phantom Ray program manager
for Boeing. "Autonomous, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft are real,
and the UAS bar has been raised. Now I’m eager to see how
high that bar will go."
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