Second X-47B robo-drone takes to the air (photos)
by ZDNet Author | December 1, 2011 8:00am PST | Image 1 of 10
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Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy are doubling down on their efforts to get the X-47B robotic drone in shape to use an aircraft carrier for take-offs and landings: a second test aircraft now has made its first flight. The 29-minute low-altitude excursion took place November 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California, as part of the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. "With two aircraft now available, we can increase the amount of aircraft performance data we gather, which will allow us to meet our required aircraft capability demonstration goals in a timely manner," Carl Johnson, vice president and UCAS-D program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector, said in a statement this week.
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I was thinking the E-2 and E-3 AWACS planes had a wingspan of around 80 +/- feet. And, I was thinking this was the first thing in the air during a deployment.
The aircraft has a wingspan of only 30.9' when the wings are folded for carrier operations.
Launches and recoveries are pretty dicey with the wings folded - probably why its a drone
What shanedr means by "the wings are folded for carrier operations. " is parking on the deck and fitting on the elevator, not air operations.
So we've had "drone" landings on carriers for almost 50 years. What's the big deal? GpaKen
The big deal is flying the mission in an autonomous mode. As I see it.
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