NASA Boeing X-48B Blended Wing Body Phase 1 Test Flights

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Courtesy: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/NewsReleases/2010/10-12.html

X-48B BWB Team Completes Phase 1 Test Flights

EDWARDS, Calif. -- A team led by NASA and The Boeing Company has completed the first phase of flight tests on the subscale X-48B blended wing body aircraft at the agency's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.

The remotely piloted, 500-pound airplane with the silhouette resembling a manta ray also called a hybrid wing body -- is a tool of NASA's new Environmentally Responsible Aviation, or ERA, Project, which aims to develop the technology needed to create a quieter, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient airplane for the future.

A flying test bed such as the X-48B enables NASA to assess and validate the key technologies. The recently concluded flight tests ascertained the handling and flying qualities of such an aircraft at speeds typical of landings and takeoffs.

"This project is a huge success," said Fay Collier, manager of the ERA Project in NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. "Bottom line: the team has proven the ability to fly tailless aircraft to the edge of the low-speed envelope safely."

Until recently, Collier was principal investigator for NASA's Subsonic Fixed Wing Project, which established the partnership with Boeing to conduct initial, fundamental technology development efforts with the X-48B. The ERA Project he now leads is part of a new research program NASA initiated to help further mature promising technology before transfer to industry.

The team completed the 80th and last flight of the project's first phase on March 19, 2010, almost three years after the X-48B's first flight on July 20, 2007.

In the mid-2000s, NASA identified low-speed flight controls as a development challenge for aircraft such as the hybrid wing body. This challenge, and the challenge of building a non-circular, pressurized fuselage structure, have been the initial focuses of research since then. The ultimate goal is to develop technology for an environmentally friendly aircraft that makes less noise, burns less fuel, and emits less noxious exhaust.

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[5w3w0h]

This WILL use the same terminal as the a380, so will probably be used in large markets, but either way this will be a huge step forward for aviation.

[johnf8761]

@platinum243125 If the aircraft is good enough, they will make the airports handle it. Just because no airport can handle it now, doesn't mean it won't be worth it. This plane is going to be more efficient.

The aircraft design as it is now, can not be improved by much anymore. Only improvements made now are on material. So a new different design is needed, if you want anymore major improvements.

[platinum243125]

Can any airports even handle it? Most can't even handle the a380 because of its dimensions and weight

[bestamerica]

'

only america is okay,,,

not ussr russia,,,

ussr russia cannot allowed to copy steal from this america plane

[UltimateKillerII]

wow 0 dislikes

[emp29]

ATC has a cute voice

[terriblefart]

@powerofthroughts lol same here , but we cannot, because its remote controlled dude. :P

[urgdaddy]

Nice brakes....and suspension

[k4lpcm]

@scaremenga How can a fixed geometry airframe experience a "yawing motion" on one portion of the plane, but not another? Most tailless aircraft like the BWB will use drag rudders (split outboard elevon/aileron surfaces) for yaw control. Drag rudders (or winglet rudders) combined with proper differential in the roll control surfaces (ailerons/elevons) to eliminate as much adverse yaw as possible. Proverse yaw effects are good, to a point... and keep turns coordinated.

[datzfast]

interesting landing gear apparatus. whats it all about.