The X-48B blended-wind experimental aircraft has been
profiled twice before on DailyTech.
We first brought you news of the aircraft in May 2006 -- at the time the X-48B
was scheduled
to take to the air for the first time at the end of 2006.
As is the case with many complex research projects, that
first flight was delayed. In March of this year, DailyTech noted that the Air Force, Boeing and NASA were getting close to
flight trials for the X-48B. Again, months passed and nothing happened.
Today, we're happy to report that the 8.5 percent scale
X-48B finally took to the air on July 20. The 500-pound, 21-foot
remotely-piloted aircraft stayed aloft for 31 minutes and reached an altitude
of 7,500 feet before touching down at Edwards Air Force Base.
"Friday's flight marked yet another aviation first
achieved by a very hard-working Boeing, NASA and Cranfield team," said
Dryden Blended Wing Body project manager Gary Cosentino. "The X-48B flew
as well as we had predicted, and we look forward to many productive data
flights this summer and fall."
The X-48B is powered by three turbojet engines. The engines
have the ability to propel the aircraft at speeds up to 138 MPH and can push it
to a maximum altitude 10,000 feet.
The research gathered from the X-48B program will be used to
help develop next-generation blended-wing military and commercial aircraft that
are more fuel efficient, offer increased cargo/passenger space and are quieter
than their traditional counterparts.