Posted on 07/12/2010 6:44:17 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Phantom Works offered a first glimpse of Phantom Eye, the hydrogen-powered unmanned demonstrator built to stay aloft at 65,000ft for up to four days at a time, 12 July in St. Louis.
In September, Phantom Eye will move to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, California, to begin a series of ground and taxi tests in preparation for its maiden flight in the first quarter of 2011. The debut flight is expected to last 4 to 8hr.
We still have a ways to go," said Drew Mallow, Phantom Eye programme manager, including continuing wing testing, integration work and one additional structural test.
Boeing's Phantom Works have been pushing hard to maintain a stringent self-imposed schedule, Mallow said, demonstrating not only the technology but also Boeing's rapis prototyping abilities.
"It is a perfect example of turning an idea into a reality. It defines our rapid prototyping efforts and will demonstrate the art-of-the-possible when it comes to persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance," said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works. "Phantom Eye is the first of its kind and could open up a whole new market in collecting data and communications."
Phantom Eye has a 45.72m (150ft) wingspan, will cruise at approximately 150kt and can carry up to a 204kg (450lb) payload. It is powered by two 2.3-litre, four-cylinder engines originally designed for a Ford Ranger pick-up truck, each with 111kW (150hp).
Need about two dozen of these in A-stan right now.
Ping
Looks like something my crazy ass room mate built in college when we were at Embry RIddle...
His was ducted fan, weighed about 30 pounds and had the flight characteristics of a smartly thrown penguin...
A 450lb payload?!?
Where do they plan to deploy this phantom?
I know I am supposed to be impressed but......
It is a giant sperm with wings.....
I looks like a winged sperm. :)
push/pull???
I think the guy I work with would be willing to give them the whole darn truck for free. Its been in the shop more than it's been on the road.
- Traveler
So they hired my ex-wife -- no big deal...
Ford powered and Mulally is now CEO of Ford.
The 2.3 Turbo hasn't been used in eons. We are talking the old Turbo-Thunderbird.
Is this a smoke screen for the 2.2L Eco-Boost that will be out soon in the 2011 Edge and possibly the 2011 Explorer. With that said, the Eco-Boost is state of the art, I can see them wanting to try the flat torque curve with a constant speed prop to do what Lindberg did with running oversquare with the P-38's to eek out extra range....
I see no room for payload, tell me what I am missing here...
Payload is Weak. I wonder if it qualifies under sport license catagory?
If nothing else, perhaps they can drop fat woman on targets from orbit....
The 2.3L Ford SOHC is a fairly bulletproof little high-performance engine when turbocharged. Probably the best part of any Ford vehicle it came from.
With forged pistons and performance rods, I’m sure it could pound out 300 HP all day long.
An aircraft version would have all the good stuff.
Seems like one of those geewiz additions that's there for no reason. Just the additional payload capacity that could come with using gasoline instead ought to warrant telling them to stuff the greenie stuff and get back to work on a war plane.
Either the Ford engines run an anti-grav unit inside the sperm body, or something is missing from that photo.
Hydrogen is lighter than air and can add lift.
Agreed, but it smells of mil-spec smoke screen. I can’t see them use a cast iron boat anchor block when the Eco-Boost is here that is cutting edge.
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