Northrop Grumman X-47B UCAS-D

[Triton]

X-47B UCAS Flight Test Highlights - Summer 2011

http://youtu.be/RJ8cMDuPalA

 

[Triton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IDIucbCDEk&feature=share&list=UUiTTe3mBodoZVGVhQDpEFjg

 

[VTOLicious]

You are right! Your reach higher effectiveness of the spoiler for directional stability, when it is already partly deployed and has low effect in seperated flow. And can be than faster deployed fully, where it has the higher effect.

Interesting!...wouldn´t it be more effective to use wingtip "airbrakes" like the A-6 intruder?

 

[Reaper]

...or like on the B-2. Yes it would, but the question / trade off is also where to put the other control flaps.

 

[InvisibleDefender]

From the first flight at Pax.

 

[InvisibleDefender]

HOOK!
(it was just a roll-in, but still pretty cool!)

 

[aim9xray]

Looks like they did better than Brand-X! At least so far.

:

 

[aim9xray]

Um. Oops. Disregard my last. http://www.defencetalk.com/x-47b-ucav-flies-with-arrester-hook-for-carrier-trials-44462/

 

[secret]

What sorts of flight control system is employed on this vehicle?
Is it stable aerodynamically?

 

[Reaper]

I would say it is statically stable. Center of Gravity in front of the Main Landing Gear and the Neutral Point of the wing behind it!

 

[flateric]

lower left bird looks familiar, no?

 

[fightingirish]

X-47B UCAS wireless ground handling demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTVNIVjMDhM

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTVNIVjMDhM

 

[Creative]

NORFOLK, Va. -- Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) assist with the onload of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator. The air vehicle arrived by barge Nov. 26 from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5195

 

[Triton]

Posted by NAVAIRSYSCOM Nov. 29, 2012:

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator successfully completed its inaugural land-based catapult launch Nov. 29 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

The Navy's first-ever steam catapult launch of the pilotless X-47B ensures the vehicle can structurally handle the rigors of the unique and stringent aircraft-carrier environment. Read more at: http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5199

http://youtu.be/gHtMowd8eWc

 

[sferrin]

Awesome. B)

 

[Triton]

Posted by NAVAIRSYSCOM Nov. 27, 2012:

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) assist with the onload of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator. The air vehicle arrived by barge Nov. 26 from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. The Navy plans to conduct X-47B carrier deck handling tests aboard the ship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0U5bs05Tko&feature=share&list=UUlEkLjcolIdN8KzfrTxZBtQ

 

[Triton]

Posted by Northrop Grumman Nov. 28, 2012:

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration aircraft was hoisted aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 26, 2012 in preparation for deck handling trials. The trials, to be conducted in early December, will demonstrate X-47B's compatibility with the carrier operating environment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTmGRHM9hSM&feature=share&list=UUiTTe3mBodoZVGVhQDpEFjg

 

[Triton]

United States Navy videos of Northrop Grumman X-47B being hoisted aboard U.S.S. Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) at Norfolk, Virginia for carrier trials on Nov. 26, 2012.

The air vehicle arrived by barge from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. The Navy plans to conduct X-47B carrier deck handling tests aboard the ship

http://youtu.be/t-Z_RVrMjH8

http://youtu.be/wPLHC5rwOYo

http://youtu.be/n_56fNy1RUc

http://youtu.be/m-PYqHeNYmw

http://youtu.be/kYuKkB_9jA0

 

[Creative]

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Corp. by Alan Radecki/ Released)

http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=141116#

 

[Creative]

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) - The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air Systems (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (Northrop Grumman video by Dave Buchanan/ Released)

http://youtu.be/bdY-V0uqaHQ

 

[flateric]

five more hi-res photos here
http://www.navy.mil/list_all.asp?id=71011

 

[Triton]

Published on Dec 10, 2012
121209-N-HG389-001
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) - The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air Systems (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Parker/ Released)

http://youtu.be/Ad855B3EzSQ

Published on Dec 10, 2012
121209-N-HG389-001
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) - The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air Systems (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Parker/ Released)

http://youtu.be/alrGdzW0R5A

Published on Dec 10, 2012
121209-N-UK248-001
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) - The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air Systems (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristina Young/ Released)

http://youtu.be/85nAZ0ZmRq4

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Nice to see my old ship making history again.

 

[flateric]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJl2-6WaVTo

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Thanks! Always a pleasure to see my ship again.

 

[Creative]

First arrested landing (on land)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z2vpnbEbXc

 

[Triton]

"X-47B makes its first trap on land"
by
Dave Majumdar
on May 6, 2013 11:15 PM

Source:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/

The US Navy's Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System-Demonstrator (UCAS-D) made its first shore-based landing using a carrier's arresting gear system on 4 May. This first trap is the beginning of a series of tests before the X-47B makes its way onto the boat later this month.

"It moves us a critical step closer to proving that unmanned systems can be integrated seamlessly into Navy carrier operations," says Capt Jaime Engdahl, the Navy's UCAS program manager.

Carl Johnson, vice president and Navy UCAS program manager for Northrop Grumman, says, "The X-47B air vehicle performs exactly as predicted by the modeling, simulation and surrogate testing we did early in the UCAS-D program."

For the arrested landing, the X-47B used a navigation approach that closely mimics the technique it will use to land on an aircraft carrier underway at sea according to the Navy.

 

[flateric]

Historical moment approaches
http://news.usni.org/2013/05/07/navy-plans-to-launch-carrier-uav-next-tuesday

 

[flateric]

old, but still QI

 

[fredymac]

Successful cat launch. Haven't spotted any videos.

 

[bobbymike]

Defense News Story

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130514/DEFREG02/305140016?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[fightingirish]

Why do I not wait a few minutes later, so I can post once instead of three times. :-[
Edit: two early post deleted and combined.
X-47B Ground Carrier Suitability Testing Spring 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f9gLAMebOw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f9gLAMebOw

X-47B Taxis and Completes First Carrier-based Launch (Long)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hknsbswLFwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hknsbswLFwo

X-47B Completes First Carrier-based Launch (Short)

An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator launches from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), May 14. George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nwdIH_A9BI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nwdIH_A9BI

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator lands at Naval Air Staion Patuxent River, Md., after completing the first launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle from an aircraft carrier, May 14, 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vdll3FEaKU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vdll3FEaKU

 

[sferrin]

Yeah dude, stand right in front of the camera.

 

[flateric]

X-47B Taxis and Completes First Carrier-based Launch (Long)


AAARGH!

 

[fightingirish]

One more videos recorded from a different angle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taW3XsZiN2I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taW3XsZiN2I

 

[bobbymike]

Yeah dude, stand right in front of the camera.

Hey we are filming history let's capture the guys waiving their hands around and not the UCAS geez Louise

 

[VH]

It was that deck crew who made that history. Well done US Navy, well done

 

[Tailspin Turtle]

"George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck."

No, it wasn't: http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-first-launch-of-unmanned-aircraft.html

 

[sferrin]

It was that deck crew who made that history. Well done US Navy, well done

Pretty sure it was the plane.

 

[Stargazer]

Why do I not wait a few minutes later, so I can post once instead of three times. :-[

No worries. We all do this at times! :
As a wise man once said, only those who do nothing never make any mistake... ;D