TAILLESS PLANE POINTS TO FUTURE; SERIES OF TEST FLIGHTS SET FOR AREA CENTER.Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer A tailless airplane that made a successful first flight two weeks ago represents what one researcher called ``the shape of airplanes to come.'' The X-36, a subscale, remote-controlled aircraft took off from Rogers Dry Lake at 7:08 a.m. May 17 and flew for five minutes, reaching an altitude of 4,900 feet. An additional 24 flights are scheduled to take place at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center The Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC), located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. On March 26, 1976 it was named in honor of the late Hugh L. over the next six months, National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), officials said. ``We thought the flight was outstanding; we are beginning to show what the fighter aircraft fighter aircraft Aircraft designed primarily to secure control of essential airspace by destroying enemy aircraft in combat. Designed for high speed and maneuverability, they are armed with weapons capable of striking other aircraft in flight. of the future will look like,'' said Rod Bailey, NASA's X-36 program manager. ``When we saw this airplane lift off we saw the shape of airplanes to come.'' A tailless aircraft A tailless or tail-less aeroplane traditionally has all its horizontal control surfaces on its main wing surface. It has no (horizontal stabilizer - either tailplane or canard foreplane (nor does it have a second wing in tandem arrangement). offers benefits, officials said. First, there is a savings in the weight of the aircraft that increases the aircraft's range. Second, a tailless aircraft is stealthier because it leaves a smaller image for radar. The X-36 is only 28 percent as large as full-scale aircraft - large enough to test the key flight controls without the expense of developing a full-scale aircraft. Two X-36 aircraft were built for the program by McDonnell Douglas' Phantom Works division in St. Louis. Total cost for construction and flight test of the two aircraft is estimated at about $20 million. Each X-36 is a single-engine aircraft 18 feet long with a wing span of 10 feet. Each plane weighs 1,250 pounds. The yaw yaw, in aviation: see airplane; airfoil. See pitch-yaw-roll. motion - the side to side movement of the aircraft's nose normally controlled by a tail rudder rudder, mechanism for steering an airplane or a ship. In ships it is a flat-surfaced structure hinged to the stern and controlled by a helm. When the ship is on a straight course, the rudder is in line with the vessel; if the rudder is turned to one side or the other - is controlled through the use of split ailerons - the flaps on the rear edges of the wings. The ailerons raise and lower in a normal fashion to provide roll control. Researchers expect the X-36 will be more agile than the F-18, regarded as the most nimble jet used by the U.S. military. The X-36 program is a joint effort by McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It merged with Boeing in 1997 to form The Boeing Company. and NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View. The flight tests are being hosted by NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: The tailless X-36 aircraft is expected to have more maneuverability than the F-18 fighter plane. |
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