The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) programme demonstrated an acute level of precision and repeatability during at-sea trials this spring/summer. On May 21 2013, the nose gear of the X-47B landed on the same relative spot on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush seven times consecutively. Continue reading
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
Northrop Grumman Partnered with Wind River to Deliver the Software Platform for X-47B
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Northrop Grumman partnered with Wind River to deliver the software platform for the U.S. Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration aircraft. Tighe Parmenter, manager of X-47B Navy UCAS business strategy and development, discusses how they relied on Wind River and the X-47B Joint Industry Team (JIT) to deliver this system. Continue reading
X-56A Technology Demonstrator First Flight
The US Air Force Research Laboratory, in conjunction with Lockheed Martin and NASA, recently took a major step in the development of active aircraft control technologies with the first flight on July 26 of the X-56A Multi-Utility Technology Testbed flight demonstrator, at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, California. Continue reading
New, Improved Gray Eagle – First Pictures
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. just released the first pictures of the new, Improved Gray Eagle. Continue reading
OstrichCopter Flies in the Netherlands
The Dutch creator of a taxidermied cat helicopter has turned his hand to a more ambitious project, in the shape of OstrichCopter. Continue reading
US Military Black Dart Exercise Test UAS Countermeasures
The US military’s premier joint exercise to test countermeasures to protect against enemy unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) began on 29 July and run until 11 August at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. Continue reading
UAS Variable-Pitch Propeller Ready for Flight Testing
After years of research, Thunder Bay’s Aerovate Inc. will flight-test its variable-pitch UAS propeller system this summer, with the goal of bringing the technology to market this fall. Continue reading
Scion Gets FAA R&D Certification for SA-400 Jackal OPV
Scion UAS, developers of VTOL unmanned and optionally piloted aircraft systems, has received FAA certification for the SA-400 Jackal optionally piloted vehicle. The vehicle, which can carry a 100 lb payload for more than 5 hours, received an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate for Experimental Research and Development. Continue reading