Message posted by Peter Merlin on August 12, 2004 at 9:26:12 PST:
The Lockheed Martin Morphing Aircraft Structures demonstrator doesn't seem to have any sort of cool name as far as I can determine. The project, sponsored by DARPA, will produce technology for use in unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) designs. The Lockheed Martin approach features folding wings. They have built two small demonstrators, each weighing about 140 pounds and powered by a hobby-class turbine engine. The engine itself only weighs 5 pounds. I was able to closely examine the second vehicle (let's call it AV-2). It is mainly carbon-fibre composite construction and looks generally similar to the leading UCAV designs (X-45C, X-46). The fuselage sides are steeper and flatter, however, so that the inner wing panels can fold up flush against them. I saw AV-1 undergoing some tests out on the lakebed. It will probably fly next week. There is a good article with illustrations at:
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994484
In Reply to: Lockheed Morphing UAV posted by FreebirdUK on August 10, 2004 at 14:42:33 PST:
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