Scaled Composites Model 401 Sierra

[XP67_Moonbat]

https://m.facebook.com/ScaledComposites/photos/a.10152907559440658.1073741827.358436530657/10155057601380658/?type=3&source=57

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

http://www.scaled.com/images/uploads/news/Scaled_Completes_First_Flight_of_Experimental_Aircraft_20171011.pdf

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

StackPath

 

[AeroFranz]

Neat. I hope we find out what the application is. I don't think you invest IRAD money unless you think there's a need for this. Was it maybe a demonstrator for something black? The fact that it's got a cockpit doesn't mean it wasn't supposed to be unmanned or optionally piloted (see Firebird).

 

[marauder2048]

Maybe a customer who doesn't want to pay General Atomics' asking price for Avenger.

 

[fightingirish]

Video:

https://dq0mmww6n9gqf.cloudfront.net/mco/2017/10/11/59de8564e4b0cf92c3b07f52/59de8573e4b0bdc8d4556b42_t_1507755385987_mobile.m3u8

Source:

Scaled Composites reveals mysterious new ‘Model 401’ prototype

Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites debuted a new experimental aircraft, Model 401, in an Oct. 11 announcement of the prototype’s recent first flight.

www.defensenews.com

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Makes me wonder if there's a line of research tying the 401 and General Atomic's MQ-25 bid.

 

[bobbymike]

Would you test a sub scale wing of the B-21?

 

[kcran567]

Would make a good "Red Air" threat simulator to work alongside the older Aggressors too?

 

[seruriermarshal]

video

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdLtcSUQmL4

 

[sferrin]

MQ-25 subscale demonstrator maybe? ???

 

[marauder2048]

Loyal Wingman? 5GAT?

 

[NeilChapman]

It's more likely that they're building two low cost platforms for Flight Research, their neighbor. They do government contracted services.

 

[Flyaway]

Scaled Composites @ScaledC
Scaled is proud to say that today was the first flight of our newest experimental aircraft, Model 401! #firsts (link: http://bit.ly/M401FF) bit.ly/M401F

Press release on link above.

https://twitter.com/x/status/918185829951987712

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ScaledC/status/918185829951987712

 

[bobbymike]

Would you test a sub scale wing of the B-21?

Understanding one is an artist's rendering but are the wings similar? Hiding testing in plain site?

 

[Airplane]

Ahhhh.... No. I would imaging that those windmills on the ground are closer to the B-21 than the demonstrator in the pic.

 

[bobbymike]

Ahhhh.... No. I would imaging that those windmills on the ground are closer to the B-21 than the demonstrator in the pic.

Not talking about the whole aircraft obviously, so you would never test different wing planforms or configurations?

 

[TomS]

It's hard to tell, but in the video, it looks like the wingtips are slightly drooped?

 

[Orionblamblam]

Well, *finally.* Quiet Bird was born in the early sixties, but took more than fifty years to fly. Looks like it's aging slowly... right now it's in that gangly awkward early teenager stage. Soon it'll break out in sensor blisters...

 

[flateric]

Would you test a sub scale wing of the B-21?

Understanding one is an artist's rendering but are the wings similar? Hiding testing in plain site?

Raider has diffirent LE sweep to start with. About 40'.

 

[Airplane]

If there was a need to get a subscale model of the Raider some 'air time' I imagine this would be the easiest and cheapest method....

 

[bobbymike]

Would you test a sub scale wing of the B-21?

Understanding one is an artist's rendering but are the wings similar? Hiding testing in plain site?

Raider has diffirent LE sweep to start with. About 40'.

Thanks flateric appreciate the response.

 

[sublight_]

Well, *finally.* Quiet Bird was born in the early sixties, but took more than fifty years to fly. Looks like it's aging slowly... right now it's in that gangly awkward early teenager stage. Soon it'll break out in sensor blisters...

And still Boeing maintains that they've "lost" all the records on quiet bird.....

 

[flateric]

If there was a need to get a subscale model of the Raider some 'air time' I imagine this would be the easiest and cheapest method....

O'RLY?

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PyugEAF3CCk

 

[Airplane]

This isn't a Raider thread, but I am sure all the subscale modeling and wind tunnel testing and prototyping and demonstrator testing is loooong since done at this point. Likely the outer mold line has been settled and they are turning that into a manufacturable set of components/drawings and doing the hum drum boring stuff of tolerance stacks, and design for service, manufacturability, and etc etc....

 

[flateric]

Likely the outer mold line has been settled and they are turning that into a manufacturable set of components/drawings

It has been for a while.
“Our biggest activity right now is putting out drawings to build the bomber,” Walden said, the airplane having passed its first major milestone—Preliminary Design Review. The next task is to “get on with the first builds of the structure.”

 

[VTOLicious]

I'm wondering what's the rationale behind the excessive dihedral angle.

 

[flateric]

...

 

[GTX]

Maybe a customer who doesn't want to pay General Atomics' asking price for Avenger.

It does look like a manned version of a Avenger doesn't it:

 

[cluttonfred]

Maybe a proof of concept for a low cost, somewhat stealthy alternative to the Textron AirLand Scorpion?

 

[AeroFranz]

Not a bad idea, in principle. I don't see much internal bay volume on this vehicle, though...and it would make no sense to hang things externally. Definitely screams test article/demonstrator to me - but for what? is it just the structures, as they claimed?

I wonder of the presence of dihedral is to get acceptable flying qualities, which would point at the lack of FBW. Not unrealistic in a low cost demonstrator.

 

[TomcatViP]

great idea, if so.

Dihedral: the engine seat on the top -> CG is higher -> lateral stability is lessened -> exacerbated dihedral increases the margin of stability for cheap.

Alternatively, with a lower altitude of flight (30k ft) the aspect ratio is increased, what "could" benefits the RCS (test?) given the refined shape of the wing planform.

But given the habit of SC to tune everything aerodynamically at the extreme, it could well be only in order to have the wing whashout acting better on the V-Tail at cruise level (lifting tail -> less trim drag -> less drag).

Obviously, the real motive could be none of that or to force bloggers to waste some extra watt of energy. :

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Perhaps it's demonstrating tech for a possible U-2 replacement.

 

[AeroFranz]

Maybe. One thing to keep in mind is that this vehicle doesn't necessarily have to be at representative scale. Depending on what you are trying to demonstrate, you can retire a lot of the risks doing something as small as half scale.
The more i think about it, the more a structures demonstrator (which is what they said) makes sense. It would justify not having a weapons bay or FBW.

 

[Sundog]

Don't forget, BoP was a a low cost structures stealthy demonstrator. It didn't represent a production configuration, but lead to the X-45.

 

[litzj]

it reminds me Tacit Blue of Northrop

stealthy and lomg endurance

probably for stealth tanker or reconaisance

 

[Airplane]

it reminds me Tacit Blue of Northrop

stealthy and lomg endurance

probably for stealth tanker or reconaisance

The 401 is anything but stealthy. LO is in the details and details are not stealthy.

 

[flateric]

Are you Dr.Cashen?

 

[litzj]

it reminds me Tacit Blue of Northrop

stealthy and lomg endurance

probably for stealth tanker or reconaisance

The 401 is anything but stealthy. LO is in the details and details are not stealthy.

basically u are right, but this prototype aircraft has potential to be stealthy

it seems like small demonstration for bigger real one

if it will not pursue stealth, there is no need for that complex layout

 

[flateric]

Kudos to Matt and Tyler
Exclusive Images Unmask Name Of Scaled Composites' Mysterious Model 401 'Son Of Ares' Jet