| X-56 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The X-56A on its first flight | |
| Role | Experimental aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Skunk Works |
| First flight | July 26, 2013 |
| Primary users | NASA Air Force Research Laboratory |
| Number built | 1 |
The Lockheed Martin X-56A[1] is a modular unmanned aerial vehicle designed to explore high altitude, long endurance (HALE) flight technologies for use in future military unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, as well as contributing knowledge to the future X-54 low-boom supersonic research programme, and future low emissions transport aircraft.
Design and development[]
Designed by Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Programs, known informally as the Skunk Works,[2] the aircraft was first revealed by Aviation Week,[3] and is intended to research active flutter suppression and gust-load alleviation technologies. The X-56A is based on Lockheed's earlier UAV work, showing influence from the Polecat, Sentinel and DarkStar UAVs. The programme calls for the construction of two 7.5 feet (2.3 m)-long fuselages and a wingspan of 27.5 ft,[4] with four sets of wings being constructed for flight testing.
Operational history[]
The X-56A made its first flight on July 26, 2013,[5] flying from Edwards Air Force Base; twenty flights were to be flown on behalf of the Air Force Research Laboratory before the aircraft would be handed over to NASA for further testing.[6]
Specifications (X-56A)[]
Data from [5]
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Wingspan: 28 ft (8.5 m)
- Powerplant: 2 × JetCat P400 turbojets, 89 lbf (0.395 kN) thrust each
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "X-56A". www.lockheedmartin.com. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/x-56.html. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ↑ "Introducing the X-56A MUTT: Who Let the Dog Out?". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/x-56a_mutt.html. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ↑ Norris, Guy. "USAF Reveals Skunk Works-Designed X-56A As Latest X-Plane". aviationweek. http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_02_01_2012_p01-02-419766.xml. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin X-56A Multi-utility Aeroelastic Demonstrator". www.hitechweb.genezis.eu. http://www.hitechweb.genezis.eu/x56.htm. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jordan, Holly (July 31, 2013). "X-56A technology demonstrator achieves first flight". Wright-Patterson Air Force Base: Air Force Research Laboratory. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123358028. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
- ↑ Warwick, Graham (August 6, 2013). "Skunk Works' X-56A - Taming Flutter". Aviation Week & Space Technology. http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3Ae01821a0-29c8-429b-9717-93375d16d0b2. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
External links[]
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