Posted 12 Sep 2007 · Report post The unusual shape of this airplane makes for some interesting sights. Check out this link for some interesting photos of the plane flighting high.Calm excitement filled the ground control station. Engineers stared intently at their computer screens as the pilot, sitting next to them, flexed his fingers on the controls. Ground crew tending the aircraft finished putting away their equipment. Preparations for the first flight of the unmanned X-48B Blended Wing Body research aircraft were complete. Years of research, design, construction, wind tunnel and ground tests coalesced into this one moment of time. ---------------"Skyray 48's airborne," Boeing pilot Norm Howell called, matter-of-factly. And with that, years of toil blossomed into the sweet fruit of success on July 20, 2007 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards AFB, Calif. One of the latest cutting-edge experimental aircraft, or X-Planes, the X-48B BWB is a collaborative effort of the Boeing Co., NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. The 21-foot wingspan, 500-pound, remotely piloted plane is designed to demonstrate the viability of the blended wing shape. And demonstrate it has. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 12 Sep 2007 · Report post Magnificent!It is one of those moments where I am simply can't wait to finish my degree in Aeronautical Engineering.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/b...bctid1830029396Virgin Galactic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post Everytime I see stuff like this it brings a smile to my face. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post The unusual shape of this airplane makes for some interesting sights. Check out this link for some interesting photos of the plane flighting high.The first "blended wing" plane to fly was the Junkers G.38 in 1929. This design (and variants) has emerged several times in the course of aircraft development. One notable instance is the "flying wing" designed at the Skunk Works (a Kelly Johnson design). I think what makes this latest of the BW aircraft unusual is that it is remotely piloted (UAV) and it is made of lightweight composites. It is a nice design. ruveyn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/b...bctid1830029396Virgin GalacticInteresting concept. Is it being built?ruveyn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post Nice plane! And for anyone (like myself) who was curious about (and/or confused by) what "blended winged" or "blended wing" could mean, the full phrase is: "blended wing body plane." This must mean (from looking at the design) that the wing and body are blended together into an inseparable unit, as opposed to the usual airplane designs which feature the body and wings as separable parts that are simply attached to each other. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post Nice plane! And for anyone (like myself) who was curious about (and/or confused by) what "blended winged" or "blended wing" could mean, the full phrase is: "blended wing body plane." This must mean (from looking at the design) that the wing and body are blended together into an inseparable unit, as opposed to the usual airplane designs which feature the body and wings as separable parts that are simply attached to each other.The most extreme form of the "blended wing" design is the so-called flying wing which has no tubular fuselage at all and the vertical stabilizers are built right into the wing. The real problem with this design is stability in stalls, but that has been overcome in the latest incarnations of this design.The first of the breed the Junkers G.28 was an airplane that was mostly (but not all) wing. It was a passenger plane and there were passengers seats in the wing itself. The plane was a four engine plane and it could carry more than twice as many passengers as the Ford tri-motor (20 passengers vs. 9 passengers). It flew safely for more than 13 years and its production was stopped by the needs of the war. ruveyn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post Here are some up close pictures of it, which I got from here: http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-48B/index.html:http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D08-0092-03.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-09.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-06.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0164-04.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...ED07-0164-1.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D06-0198-72.jpg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post Here are some up close pictures of it, which I got from here: http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-48B/index.html:http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D08-0092-03.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-09.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-06.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0164-04.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...ED07-0164-1.jpghttp://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D06-0198-72.jpgA beautiful plane.ruveyn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 18 Nov 2008 · Report post http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-09.jpgDid you notice, especially in this photo, that the plane, from above, looks like it has two eyes, a tiny dot-nose and a smiling mouth? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 18 Nov 2008 · Report post http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-09.jpgDid you notice, especially in this photo, that the plane, from above, looks like it has two eyes, a tiny dot-nose and a smiling mouth?Interesting. I wonder if that was deliberate.ruveyn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 18 Nov 2008 · Report post http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-09.jpgDid you notice, especially in this photo, that the plane, from above, looks like it has two eyes, a tiny dot-nose and a smiling mouth?Interesting. I wonder if that was deliberate.ruveynI’m sure it was, many Manta Ray’s have similar patters on their bottom side- Ryan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 18 Nov 2008 · Report post http://www1.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-...D07-0192-09.jpgDid you notice, especially in this photo, that the plane, from above, looks like it has two eyes, a tiny dot-nose and a smiling mouth? No, I hadn't noticed. It looks a bit like a smiling bull head in flight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
