The immorality geniuses during Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first moody of its X-47B unmanned secrecy bomber the couple of days ago during Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, California. In a air for a full twenty-nine minutes, a tailless, fighter-sized UAV flew to 5,000 feet and finished multiform racetrack-type patterns, before landing safely at 2:38 pm PST. The aircraft will goon to undergo tests at Edwards AFB prior to streamer to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, later this year. The ultimate idea is to get this bad boy receiving off and landing upon US Navy carriers. Carrier trials have been currently slated for someday in 2013. Video, PR after the break.

Show full PR textNorthrop Grumman X-47B First Flight – US Navy Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BOTTOM, Calif., Feb. 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC – News)-built U.S. Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft successfully finished its historic first flight during Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), Calif.

Conducted by a U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman exam team, a moody took off during 2:09 p.m. PST and lasted 29 mins. This event outlines the critical step in a module, relocating the team forward to encounter the demonstration objectives of the tailless fighter-sized unmanned aircraft to safely take off from as well as land on the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

A social media version of this recover that includes photos, video clips, as well as one more quotes as well as background element, is available at http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pa…

“First moody represents the compilation of countless tests to validate a airworthiness of a aircraft, and a robustness as well as reliability of a program which allows it to operate as an autonomous system and eventually have the capability to take-off and land aboard an aircraft carrier,” pronounced Capt. Jaime Engdahl, the Navy’s UCAS-D module manager.

Northrop Grumman is the Navy’s UCAS-D budding contractor and leader of the UCAS-D industry team.

“Designing a tailless, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft from the clean sheet is no small attainment,” pronounced Janis Pamiljans, clamp boss and UCAS-D module executive for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems zone. “Commitment, partnership as well as uncompromising technical value among a Navy, Northrop Grumman as well as a UCAS-D team industry partners done today’s flight the being. We are in truth respected to have given wings to a Navy’s prophesy for exploring unmanned conduit aviation.”

Taking off underneath misty skies, a X-47B climbed to an altitude of 5,000 feet, flew several racetrack-type patterns, and landed safely during 2:38 p.m. PST. The flight provided exam data to determine as well as validate scheme software for guidance and navigation, as well as the aerodynamic carry out of a tailless pattern.

As with all exam programs, first moody represents the culmination, corroboration and acceptance of pre-flight system interpretation collected and analyzed by both a Navy and Northrop Grumman. Airframe proof bucket tests, propulsion system took off mission tests, program majority as well as trustworthiness simulations, full system taxi tests, as well as countless other system exam activities were all finished as well as approved prior to first flight.

The aircraft will remain during Edwards AFB for flight envelope enlargement prior to transitioning to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., after this year. There, the scheme will bear additional tests to validate its readiness to proceed testing in a maritime and conduit surroundings. The UCAS-D module is scheming the X-47B for conduit trials in 2013.

The Navy awarded a UCAS-D prime stipulate to Northrop Grumman in August 2007. The six-year contract calls for a growth of two X-47B fighter-sized aircraft. The module will denote a first-ever carrier launches and recoveries by an unconstrained, unmanned aircraft with a low-observable-relevant planform. Autonomous aerial refueling will additionally be performed after carrier formation as well as at-sea trials.

Via Engadget