taking rotorcraft to the next level.....
Boeing A160 Hummingbird completes flight test
By Doug Kinneard
Ship 4 of the Boeing A160 Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft program made its first test flight Wednesday from an airfield near Victorville, Calif., as Boeing continues to demonstrate the unprecedented range, endurance, payload and altitude capabilities of this unmanned air vehicle.
"This flight – the first with a six-cylinder Subaru engine – is an important step toward concept demonstration of this innovative UAV to offer unprecedented capabilities in the history of helicopters," said Gary Gallagher, A160 program manager for Boeing Phantom Works.
"It's gratifying to resume flight testing, as the A160 team does a great job with this new technology," Gallagher continued. "This aircraft can change all the rules as they apply to UAV vertical takeoff and landing operations."
The new A160 successfully flew for about 30 minutes in the vicinity of the airfield, bringing the total number of A160 test flights to 32 and the total number of flight hours to 58.
The objectives of the test included opening the A160's flight envelope for the latest vehicle configuration – previous aircraft used four-cylinder Subaru engines. Engineers are currently analyzing the flight data in preparation for the next series of test flights.
The Hummingbird features a unique optimum speed rotor technology that significantly improves overall performance efficiency by adjusting the RPM of the rotor system at different altitudes, gross weights and cruise speeds. It is designed to fly autonomously, for much longer periods of time (in excess of 24 hours), over greater distances (2,500-plus nautical miles/4,630-plus kilometers), at higher altitudes (up to 30,000 feet/9,144 meters) and much more quietly than current helicopters.
The A160 could provide reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, communication relay and precision re-supply. The A160 Hummingbird is being developed and tested by Phantom Works under contract with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Phantom Works currently is under contract for eight A160 UAVs for DARPA and 10 for Naval Air Systems Command.