X-48B Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft Takes First Flight [1 attachment]

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007...st_Flight.html


RELEASE: 07-165

X-48B Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft Takes First Flight

EDWARDS, Calif. -- NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards,
Calif., provided critical support for the first flight July 20 of the
X-48B. The 21-foot wingspan, 500-pound remotely piloted test vehicle
took off for the first time at 8:42 a.m. PDT and climbed to an
altitude of 7,500 feet before landing 31 minutes later. The Boeing Co.
of Seattle developed the blended wing body research aircraft.

"Friday's flight marked yet another aviation first achieved by a very
hard-working Boeing, NASA and Cranfield team," said Gary Cosentino,
Dryden's Blended Wing Body project manager. "The X-48B flew as well as
we had predicted, and we look forward to many productive data flights
this summer and fall."

NASA's participation in the blended wing body effort is focused on
fundamental, advanced flight dynamics and structural concepts of the
design. It is a Subsonic Fixed Wing project managed by NASA's
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, Washington.

In addition to hosting the X-48B flight test and research activities,
NASA provided engineering and technical support -- expertise garnered
from years of operating cutting-edge air vehicles. NASA assisted with
the hardware and software validation and verification process, the
integration and testing of the aircraft's systems and the pilot's
ground control station. NASA's range group provided critical telemetry
and command and control communications during the flight, while flight
operations provided a T-34 chase aircraft and essential flight
scheduling. Photo and video support completed the effort.

Boeing's Phantom Works designed the X-48B flight test vehicles in
cooperation with NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at
Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to gather detailed information
about the stability and flight-control characteristics of the blended
wing body design, especially during takeoffs and landings.

The Boeing blended wing body design resembles a flying wing, but
differs in that the wing blends smoothly into a wide, flat, tailless
fuselage. This fuselage blending provides additional lift with less
drag compared to a circular fuselage, translating to reduced fuel use
at cruise conditions. Since the engines mount high on the back of the
aircraft, there is less noise inside and on the ground when it is in
flight.

....

(image)

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Pho...D06-0201-2.jpg

Boy, that was a fast post! I just heard about this on NPR (National Public
Radio) here in Richmond, Kentucky.

Nice bird!!!
--

Chaplain (COL) Lonnie J. Potter
National Recruiting Coordinator
Headquarters (HQ) Division
United States Corps of Chaplains

""§qu@re Wheels""
mostly_harmless@pangalactic_vector_exchange_trans ponder31_universe.net
wrote in message news:MVpqi.9897$rX4.6304@pd7urf2no...
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007...st_Flight.html


RELEASE: 07-165

X-48B Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft Takes First Flight

EDWARDS, Calif. -- NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards,
Calif., provided critical support for the first flight July 20 of the
X-48B. The 21-foot wingspan, 500-pound remotely piloted test vehicle
took off for the first time at 8:42 a.m. PDT and climbed to an
altitude of 7,500 feet before landing 31 minutes later. The Boeing Co.
of Seattle developed the blended wing body research aircraft.


I do not think this is a real photo.

"Dutch"

Dutch wrote:

""§qu@re Wheels""
mostly_harmless@pangalactic_vector_exchange_trans ponder31_universe.net
wrote in message news:MVpqi.9897$rX4.6304@pd7urf2no...
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007...st_Flight.html


RELEASE: 07-165

X-48B Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft Takes First Flight

EDWARDS, Calif. -- NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards,
Calif., provided critical support for the first flight July 20 of the
X-48B. The 21-foot wingspan, 500-pound remotely piloted test vehicle
took off for the first time at 8:42 a.m. PDT and climbed to an
altitude of 7,500 feet before landing 31 minutes later. The Boeing Co.
of Seattle developed the blended wing body research aircraft.


I do not think this is a real photo.

"Dutch"

well, it's certainly posed, & apparently includes artificial light sources,
but i doubt it's artificial.

redc1c4,
(but then again, i could be wrong %-)
--
"Enlisted men are stupid, but extremely cunning and sly, and bear
considerable watching."

Army Officer's Guide

Looks like a model?

Dave Strebe wrote in news:sk2ri.13925$_d2.12921@pd7urf3no:

Looks like a model?

It is! Flies though...

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/n...007/07-42.html