Boeing A160 Hummingbird Completes Flight Test

Boeing A160 Hummingbird Completes Flight Test: " CHICAGO, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA)
today announced the A160 Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft made its first test
flight from an airfield near Victorville, Calif., Nov. 30. Boeing continues
its program to demonstrate the unprecedented range, endurance, payload and
altitude capabilities of this innovative 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. This aircraft can change all the rules as they apply to UAV
vertical take-off and landing operations.'
The new A160 successfully flew for about 30 minutes in the vicinity of the
air field, bringing the total number of A160 test flights to 32 and the total
number of flight hours to 58.
The objectives of the recent flight test were to open the A160's flight
envelope for the latest vehicle configuration, as 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 nautical miles), at higher altitudes
(up to 30,000 feet), and much more quietly than current helicopters.
The A160 could provide reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition,
communication relay and precision re-supply. Its unique characteristics would
allow it to effectively address current and emerging requirements of the U.S.
armed forces, Department of Homeland Security, and international military and
security organizations.
The A160 Hummingbird is being developed and tested by Boeing Phantom Works
under contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Phantom Works currently is under contract for eight A160 UAVs for DARPA and
ten for Naval Air Systems Command.
As the advanced R&D unit and catalyst of innovation for the enterprise,
Phantom Works collaborates with Boeing business units, external customers,
suppliers, universities and other R&D agencies throughout the world to provide
new system solutions and breakthrough technologies that are defining the
future of aerospace.
Phantom Works will complete initial development of the Hummingbird and
then transfer the program to Boeing Integrated Defense Systems -- a unit of
The Boeing Company and one of the world's largest space and defense businesses
-- for further development and production.


SOURCE The Boeing Company
Web Site: http://www.boeing.com "