Harley
4th May 2011, 00:13
Question: If you seen one of these fly overhead, what's the first thing that might come to your mind? I'm pretty sure most of us would be scrambling for the camera!
http://www.newlaunches.com/entry_image/0509/11/Phantom_Ray_unmanned.jpgThis is Boeing’s Phantom Ray unmanned aircraft, the X-45C.
Notice the size. With the people standing behind it you can see that it is quite large, as UAV's go. That's because, among other things, it is a BOMBER. I wonder what other people's thoughts are on having unmanned bombers flying around their neighborhoods?
Now look a little closer at the fuselage:
It does have (what appears to be) an air intake on top, but whether or not it's propulsion system is by conventional turbine remains to be seen.
Where are the Flight Control Surfaces? The three primaries of ANY CONVENTIONAL aircraft are ailerons (located on the trailing edge of the wing), the elevator and the rudder (both of which are located on the vertical stabilizer). If the vertical stabilizer is removed on any conventional design it HAS to be replaced with other methods of control.
The military has been experimenting with Flying Wings for many years now. Here is one of the first semi-successful incarnations:
The Northrop YB-49 Bomber of the 1950s.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/YB49-2_300.jpg/755px-YB49-2_300.jpg
As one can see, this early version still had to make use of the vertical stab/rudder/elevator and the wing control surfaces (aelerons, etc) are clearly visible.
Now take a look at two more-well-known incarnations:
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Stealth Bomber
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/images/b2_6.jpg
The Lockheed F-117 Stealth Fighter
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg/800px-F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg
Although the B-2 has successfully removed the vertical stabilizer, you can clearly see in both photos that both aircraft still have to make use of wing control surfaces.
Now there is one other means of controlling conventional aircraft, and that's by the use of Thrust Vectoring or Thrust Vector Control (TVC). Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust_vectoring) defines this as:
the ability of an aircraft, rocket or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine(s) or motor in order to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle.
A fine example of a conventional aircraft that utilizes TVC would be the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier II Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Ground Attack Aircraft:
http://juliantheaviator.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/harrier.jpg
On these aircraft however, the TVC's are only located on the underside to permit hovering, VTOL, and vertical-to-horizontal-flight transitional stability. But since there are no TVC's also on the upperside of the aircraft, Thrust Vectoring cannot be used during normal horizontal flight.
So my whole point in going through all of this explanation is, even though there could be Thrust Vectoring Ports on the underside of this vehicle (X-45C), where are they on top? There are no control features or ports of any kind visible on this aircraft.
OH, WAIT A MINUTE! But there IS one other "possibility" :) that I almost forgot to mention: "Smart" Materials With Uncanny Properties.
It is called The Morphing Project at NASA's Langley Research Center (http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast01mar_1/).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DChLk0KzMI
This article and video was published on the NASA website way back in March 2001 and with comments such as "developing exotic technologies", "Self-healing wings that flex and react like living organisms", and "At the core of this impending quantum leap in aerospace technology are "smart" materials -- substances with uncanny properties, such as the ability to bend on command, "feel" pressure, and transform from liquid to solid when placed in a magnetic field. This is technology that most people aren't aware even exists.", I am STILL surprised that NASA has allowed this article to remain on their website.
Remember Lieutenant Colonel Philip J. Corso? He published the book The Day After Roswell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After_Roswell), about how he was involved in the research of alleged extraterrestrial technology recovered from the 1947 Roswell UFO Incident.
Philip Corso Interview & Disclosure Project (1 of 12)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-02Q5kVZYk
So it shouldn't take much stretch of the imagination for even the most "common layman" to envision how far they've come.
This "airplane", The X-45C Phantom Ray, FLIES NOW.
Phantom Ray Under Way In First Flight
May 3, 2011
By David A. Fulghum
AviationWeek.Com (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2011/05/03/02.xml&headline=Phantom%20Ray%20Under%20Way%20In%20First% 20Flight)
http://www.aviationweek.com/media/images/defense_images/UAVs/PhantomRay-Boeing.jpg
Washington – Despite a tight veil of security being thrown over Boeing’s Phantom Ray unmanned aircraft demonstration program, several industry officials say the stealth-shaped aircraft made its first flight at Edwards AFB, Calif., on April 27.
“Boeing conducted what appeared to be a successful 17-minute first flight and recovery,” said an observer at Edwards. “First turn was shortly after takeoff – just over lakebed. First two turns were surprisingly tight as commented by those observing near inner runway. Rest of flight other than final approach were too far away to see. Gear down for entire flight. The landing was observed to be air force style, flared.”
Boeing officials were only allows to confirm that the flight had taken place, and nothing more could be said until security has been lifted. Phantom Ray is considered one of the “starting points” for development of a U.S. Navy Uclass unmanned, stealthy, carrier-based strike aircraft.
The X-45C is the prototype vehicle for the Phantom Ray demonstration program. Another design, the Avenger (Predator C) is the product of General Atomics. Both aircraft are expected to be involved in the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike project, which is itself an offshoot of the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration program. Northrop-Grumman’s X-47B made its first 29-min. flight from Edwards on Feb. 4. Lockheed Martin is expected to enter a design based on its Polecat and RQ-170 Sentinel.
In associated UAV events, the RQ-170 – sporting full-motion video capability since its return to Afghanistan operations last year – is thought to have participated in operations that led up to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by U.S. special operations forces.
“Our success was built on developing and confirming leads and information that in part relied on airborne ISR along the lines of what it took to terminate al Zarqawi in Iraq in 2006,” says a former intelligence specialist. “Remotely piloted aircraft were a big part of the development of the knowledge base that led up to this operation.”
An embargo was placed on any release of information about the Phantom Ray flight until the initial test data were analyzed and videos reviewed which could be completed by May 3-4. The Phantom Ray is a further development of the Phantom Works’ X-45C, which has a weapons bay designed to be the same size and carry the same weapons as Lockheed’s manned F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The Phantom Ray airframe was carried from Boeing’s St. Louis facility to Edwards on Dec. 14 atop one of NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, where it was housed in the Dryden Flight Research Center.
The "DOTS" are out there. I only wish that I may be of some use in helping you connect them.
I hope you enjoyed my 'little' presentation.
Harley
http://www.newlaunches.com/entry_image/0509/11/Phantom_Ray_unmanned.jpgThis is Boeing’s Phantom Ray unmanned aircraft, the X-45C.
Notice the size. With the people standing behind it you can see that it is quite large, as UAV's go. That's because, among other things, it is a BOMBER. I wonder what other people's thoughts are on having unmanned bombers flying around their neighborhoods?
Now look a little closer at the fuselage:
It does have (what appears to be) an air intake on top, but whether or not it's propulsion system is by conventional turbine remains to be seen.
Where are the Flight Control Surfaces? The three primaries of ANY CONVENTIONAL aircraft are ailerons (located on the trailing edge of the wing), the elevator and the rudder (both of which are located on the vertical stabilizer). If the vertical stabilizer is removed on any conventional design it HAS to be replaced with other methods of control.
The military has been experimenting with Flying Wings for many years now. Here is one of the first semi-successful incarnations:
The Northrop YB-49 Bomber of the 1950s.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/YB49-2_300.jpg/755px-YB49-2_300.jpg
As one can see, this early version still had to make use of the vertical stab/rudder/elevator and the wing control surfaces (aelerons, etc) are clearly visible.
Now take a look at two more-well-known incarnations:
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Stealth Bomber
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/images/b2_6.jpg
The Lockheed F-117 Stealth Fighter
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg/800px-F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg
Although the B-2 has successfully removed the vertical stabilizer, you can clearly see in both photos that both aircraft still have to make use of wing control surfaces.
Now there is one other means of controlling conventional aircraft, and that's by the use of Thrust Vectoring or Thrust Vector Control (TVC). Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust_vectoring) defines this as:
the ability of an aircraft, rocket or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine(s) or motor in order to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle.
A fine example of a conventional aircraft that utilizes TVC would be the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier II Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Ground Attack Aircraft:
http://juliantheaviator.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/harrier.jpg
On these aircraft however, the TVC's are only located on the underside to permit hovering, VTOL, and vertical-to-horizontal-flight transitional stability. But since there are no TVC's also on the upperside of the aircraft, Thrust Vectoring cannot be used during normal horizontal flight.
So my whole point in going through all of this explanation is, even though there could be Thrust Vectoring Ports on the underside of this vehicle (X-45C), where are they on top? There are no control features or ports of any kind visible on this aircraft.
OH, WAIT A MINUTE! But there IS one other "possibility" :) that I almost forgot to mention: "Smart" Materials With Uncanny Properties.
It is called The Morphing Project at NASA's Langley Research Center (http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast01mar_1/).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DChLk0KzMI
This article and video was published on the NASA website way back in March 2001 and with comments such as "developing exotic technologies", "Self-healing wings that flex and react like living organisms", and "At the core of this impending quantum leap in aerospace technology are "smart" materials -- substances with uncanny properties, such as the ability to bend on command, "feel" pressure, and transform from liquid to solid when placed in a magnetic field. This is technology that most people aren't aware even exists.", I am STILL surprised that NASA has allowed this article to remain on their website.
Remember Lieutenant Colonel Philip J. Corso? He published the book The Day After Roswell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After_Roswell), about how he was involved in the research of alleged extraterrestrial technology recovered from the 1947 Roswell UFO Incident.
Philip Corso Interview & Disclosure Project (1 of 12)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-02Q5kVZYk
So it shouldn't take much stretch of the imagination for even the most "common layman" to envision how far they've come.
This "airplane", The X-45C Phantom Ray, FLIES NOW.
Phantom Ray Under Way In First Flight
May 3, 2011
By David A. Fulghum
AviationWeek.Com (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2011/05/03/02.xml&headline=Phantom%20Ray%20Under%20Way%20In%20First% 20Flight)
http://www.aviationweek.com/media/images/defense_images/UAVs/PhantomRay-Boeing.jpg
Washington – Despite a tight veil of security being thrown over Boeing’s Phantom Ray unmanned aircraft demonstration program, several industry officials say the stealth-shaped aircraft made its first flight at Edwards AFB, Calif., on April 27.
“Boeing conducted what appeared to be a successful 17-minute first flight and recovery,” said an observer at Edwards. “First turn was shortly after takeoff – just over lakebed. First two turns were surprisingly tight as commented by those observing near inner runway. Rest of flight other than final approach were too far away to see. Gear down for entire flight. The landing was observed to be air force style, flared.”
Boeing officials were only allows to confirm that the flight had taken place, and nothing more could be said until security has been lifted. Phantom Ray is considered one of the “starting points” for development of a U.S. Navy Uclass unmanned, stealthy, carrier-based strike aircraft.
The X-45C is the prototype vehicle for the Phantom Ray demonstration program. Another design, the Avenger (Predator C) is the product of General Atomics. Both aircraft are expected to be involved in the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike project, which is itself an offshoot of the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration program. Northrop-Grumman’s X-47B made its first 29-min. flight from Edwards on Feb. 4. Lockheed Martin is expected to enter a design based on its Polecat and RQ-170 Sentinel.
In associated UAV events, the RQ-170 – sporting full-motion video capability since its return to Afghanistan operations last year – is thought to have participated in operations that led up to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by U.S. special operations forces.
“Our success was built on developing and confirming leads and information that in part relied on airborne ISR along the lines of what it took to terminate al Zarqawi in Iraq in 2006,” says a former intelligence specialist. “Remotely piloted aircraft were a big part of the development of the knowledge base that led up to this operation.”
An embargo was placed on any release of information about the Phantom Ray flight until the initial test data were analyzed and videos reviewed which could be completed by May 3-4. The Phantom Ray is a further development of the Phantom Works’ X-45C, which has a weapons bay designed to be the same size and carry the same weapons as Lockheed’s manned F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The Phantom Ray airframe was carried from Boeing’s St. Louis facility to Edwards on Dec. 14 atop one of NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, where it was housed in the Dryden Flight Research Center.
The "DOTS" are out there. I only wish that I may be of some use in helping you connect them.
I hope you enjoyed my 'little' presentation.
Harley