Boeing and NASA have been working on a joint project to develop a blended-wing (BWB) aircraft since 1997, but the first flights for the experimental craft didn’t occur until 2004. Since that time the X-48 concept has undergone a number of design revisions which have been distilled down to the 20 foot wide, 500 lb experimental UAV called the X-48C model.
Last Friday April 12 the X-48C finished its test campaign by completing its 30th flight in the past 9 months.
Capable of a top speed of 140 mph and a maximum altitude of 10,000 ft the “manta ray” shaped X-48C’s 30 flights were set to “evaluate the low-speed stability and control of a low-noise version of a notional hybrid-wing-body design.”
According to Mike Kisska, Boeing’s X-48 Project manager, "Our goal was to define the low-speed envelope and explore the low-speed handling qualities of the blended wing body class of tailless aircraft, and we have accomplished that."
In the end both Boeing and NASA have different goals for whatever craft might eventually emerge from the X-48 experiments. While Boeing has set its sight on the crafts potential military applications, NASA is using the airframe as a test bed for developing quieter, more fuel efficient commercial airplanes that could be in the air “within 20 years”.
"Our team has done what we do best: flight-test a unique aircraft and repeatedly collect data that will be used to design future 'green' airliners," said Heather Maliska NASA’s X-48C project manager. “It is bittersweet to see the program come to an end, but we are proud of the safe and extremely successful joint Boeing and NASA flight test program that we have conducted."
Now that the X-48C’s tests have been completed, NASA and Boeing have announced plans to build a fourth blended-wing aircraft capable of demonstrating transonic flight.
Watch a Video of the X-48C:
Images and Video Courtesy of NASASource: NASA