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Advanced aircraft, X-48B, to be tested at Edwards
http://www.avpress.com/n/05/1105_s11.hts ^ | Sunday, November 5, 2006. | ALLISON GATLIN

Posted on 11/05/2006 3:02:59 PM PST by BenLurkin

EDWARDS AFB - Think of it as the aviation equivalent of a hybrid car. That's the analogy used to describe a new aircraft shape preparing for flight test at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

The X-48B is a prototype scale model of a blended wing body aircraft, one engineers believe could produce a more fuel-efficient transport-type aircraft.

This unusually shaped aircraft design - described as a cross between a conventional aircraft and a flying wing - is believed to offer greater fuel efficiency by providing more lift and better aerodynamics.

The aircraft is shaped as an elongated triangle, with a smooth line from the fuselage extending out into the wings.

"It's a very efficient way of moving a large volume through the air," said Dryden project manager Gary Cosentino.

The program is a joint effort of The Boeing Co.'s Phantom Works and the Air Force, with engineering and flight test support from Dryden.

The design is expected to be 10% to 30% more fuel efficient than today's transport aircraft.

"This would do for airplanes what hybrid cars do on the road," said Norm Princen, chief engineer on the project for Boeing.

Made primarily of composite materials, the 8.5%-scale test model is 21 feet wide and weighs approximately 400 pounds. Intended for low-speed, low-altitude research flights, the three small turbojet engines produce a top speed of 138 mph. The vehicle has a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet.

(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: aircraft; airforce; allisongatlin; aviation; boeing; edwardsafb; flyingwing; x48b

1 posted on 11/05/2006 3:03:01 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

2 posted on 11/05/2006 3:08:30 PM PST by xcamel (Press to Test, Release to Detonate)
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To: Aeronaut; Paleo Conservative; JRios1968; Dashing Dasher; CholeraJoe

ping


3 posted on 11/05/2006 3:10:00 PM PST by EveningStar
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To: EveningStar; camel

One of the flying models was on display at the Edwards Air Show -- very cool!


4 posted on 11/05/2006 3:11:54 PM PST by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
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To: BenLurkin

Vincent J. Burnelli, please call the office!


5 posted on 11/05/2006 3:53:26 PM PST by Grut
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To: zot

ping


6 posted on 11/05/2006 4:23:28 PM PST by GreyFriar ( (3rd Armored Division - Spearhead))
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To: BenLurkin

How'd it fly? Smoothly?


7 posted on 11/05/2006 4:35:38 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( The EU is opposed to Saddam Hussein's death sentence.)
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To: xcamel
Hopefully it cam be used to send Bill Cowher to North Carolina!!!!
8 posted on 11/05/2006 4:37:35 PM PST by GregB (Please pray for my grandchildren,Anna and Jacob!!!)
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To: EveningStar

I bet this Lady pilot friend of mine would love to fly that thing


9 posted on 11/05/2006 4:38:45 PM PST by al baby
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To: al baby

No doubt about it.


10 posted on 11/05/2006 4:47:38 PM PST by EveningStar
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To: All
Older thread from May
11 posted on 11/05/2006 4:56:41 PM PST by EveningStar
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To: EveningStar

Have you seen it in flight? Why is it only now that blended wing designs are being made? Did they not have the proper materials before?


12 posted on 11/05/2006 5:04:33 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( The EU is opposed to Saddam Hussein's death sentence.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

No. I haven't seen it.


13 posted on 11/05/2006 5:20:11 PM PST by EveningStar
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To: BenLurkin

The blended-wing body plane could change air cargo as we know it. It will be able to carry more cargo than even the 747-8F and fly from Memphis, TN to Tokyo non-stop at the same time. I think a lot of cargo airlines would line up to buy such a plane, that's to be sure.


14 posted on 11/05/2006 6:07:20 PM PST by RayChuang88
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To: GreyFriar

Thanks for the ping. An interesting design concept. The basic idea goes back to the 1940's when designers began putting fillets between the body and wing to reduce drag.


15 posted on 11/05/2006 7:37:54 PM PST by zot (GWB -- the most slandered man of this decade)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Didn't see it in the air -- it was a static display.


16 posted on 11/06/2006 6:51:46 AM PST by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
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