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Flying Machines of the Future

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Flying Machines of the Future Flying machines of the future Boeing’s Phantom s a massive hybrid neutrally the stuff of science fiction? No. Just buoyant aircraft delivers oversized a glimpse at some of the capabilities and Works looks into the A pipeline equipment north of the applications of projects in various stages future to come up with Arctic Circle, a homeowner uses the of development by employees of Phantom Internet to check the cheapest time to Works, the division of Boeing Defense, some ‘pretty cool stuff’ run a load of laundry. Space & Security charged with advanced by Marc Sklar At 65,000 feet (19,800 meters) over development. With a team of only about a battlefield, a liquid-hydrogen-powered 2,000 employees, Phantom Works has aircraft keeps tabs on troop movements numerous programs and initiatives going GRAPHICS: (Above) the Phantom Ray and helps control unmanned attack at any one time in fields as varied as unmanned flying test bed, shown in an artist’s concept, is 36 feet (11 meters) long aircraft flying from carriers 500 miles aviation, space, energy management, with a wingspan of 50 feet (15 meters). It (800 kilometers) offshore. and military and intelligence operations. is scheduled for systems, ground and flight officials in a major city monitor “What we do is look into the future tests this year. MICK MONAHAN/BOEING massive security operations for a global and work with our customers to determine (Right) Phantom Works and SkyHook sports event, while hundreds of miles where capability gaps may exist,” said International are developing this neutrally above, nanosatellites—each the size Darryl Davis, Phantom Works president. buoyant hybrid aircraft for heavy-lift of a toaster oven—collect data on crop “that can mean anything from advanced operations into remote areas. It will be capable of lifting up to 40 tons (36 metric conditions, flood threats, the health of aircraft to spacecraft to network systems tons). JOE NAUJOKAS/BOEING the planet and more. to energy management to hovercraft to 12 BOEING FRONTIERS / CoVER STORY BOEING FRONTIERS / APRIL 2010 hybrid airships to unmanned vehicles tions for multiple BDS businesses in only Phantom Ray builds on Boeing’s successes to security systems, as well as all the four hours. “We were told that the success with the X-45A and X-45B Unmanned components that go into those. It’s of the event was influential toward enhanc- Combat Air Systems, and the development pretty cool stuff!” ing Boeing’s work with the customers,” work done on the X-45C. In 2010, Phantom Stuff with intriguing names such as Meyer said. Ray will undergo ground and systems tests, Phantom Ray, Phantom Eye, SkyHook “I’m thrilled that our small team can leading to first flight later in the year. Flying and WaveRider. significantly impact things like sales or and testing Phantom Ray will demonstrate “It’s really cool to work in an environ- Boeing’s presence around the world.” Boeing’s commitment to be a leader in ment where leadership provides whatever Phantom Works and BDS focus the unmanned aircraft business. is needed to nurture creativity,” said Krishna resources on what’s known as rapid Another Boeing-funded prototype Badrinath, a manager with Advanced prototyping. this is the process of rapidly is the Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Modeling & Simulation. “We get to work and affordably developing a model, vehicle Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft on projects that leverage smart ideas and or system. Phantom Works typically program. tests of a liquid-hydrogen- best-in-class technologies. Ultimately, that focuses on “technology demonstrators” powered propulsion system are under helps Boeing be far more competitive.” to prove a new technology or set of way while the prototype aircraft is being Ann Meyer is also a manager with technologies. these usually are built built. the HALE prototype would be Advanced Modeling & Simulation. Last using minimal tooling. able to remain on station for more summer, her 16-member team executed one result of this prototyping effort than four days at an altitude of about 16 modeling and simulation demonstra- is Phantom Ray, announced in early 2009. 65,000 feet (19,800 meters). It would “We get to work on projects that leverage smart ideas and best-in-class technologies.” – Krishna Badrinath, a manager with Advanced Modeling & Simulation PHOTO: FRED TROILO/BOEING BOEING FRONTIERS / CoVER STORY BOEING FRONTIERS / APRIL 2010 13 “I’m thrilled that our small team can significantly impact things like sales or Boeing’s presence around the world.” – Ann Meyer, a manager with Advanced Modeling & Simulation PHOTO: MICHAEL GAIL/BOEING GRAPHIC: the Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance prototype is being built to stay aloft for up to 10 days and carry up to 2,000 pounds (910 kilograms) of payload. Potential applications for the liquid-hydrogen-powered aircraft include battlefield and border observation, port security and telecommunications. MICK MONAHAN/BOEING carry out intelligence, surveillance and program manager. “this is a true flying electrical and software integration was reconnaissance missions. A full-production vehicle, not just the engine demonstrator complete,” said Vogel. “It was a key step aircraft would likely be able to stay on the program was initially established to be. on the way to our upcoming flights.” station for up to 10 days. It has all the systems of an aircraft.” on the other end of the speed range While Phantom Eye would be Four flight tests are scheduled this is the SkyHook Heavy Lift Vehicle. (See stationed over one area for long periods year. the demonstrator will launch over story on Page 22 of the August 2009 issue of time, the X-51A WaveRider will streak the Point Mugu Pacific test Range in of Frontiers.) Currently being designed by across the sky at more than a mile per California from a U.S. Air Force Boeing Boeing for its Canadian partner SkyHook second (1.6 kilometers per second). B-52H carrier aircraft. After release, an International, the neutrally buoyant vehicle A program of the Air Force Research onboard booster will accelerate the X-51A will measure 410 feet (137 meters) long, Laboratory and Defense Advanced to about Mach 4.5 (or 4.5 times the speed 205 feet (62 meters) wide and 141 feet Research Projects Agency, WaveRider of sound) before its air-breathing engine (43 meters) high. SkyHook combines a is a scramjet demonstration aircraft for takes over and hurls WaveRider to speeds helium-filled envelope that carries the hypersonic flight testing. in excess of Mach 6. weight of the vehicle itself with four heli- “the X-51A will set the foundation for In December, the WaveRider took to copter rotors that generate the power to lift several hypersonic applications including the skies in a “captive carry” test under payloads of up to 40 tons (36 metric tons). access to space, reconnaissance, strike, the wing of a B-52H. “that test was the Ducted propellers are used for maneuver- global reach and commercial transporta- culmination of many months of hard work ing and can propel the aircraft horizontally, tion,” said Joseph Vogel, Boeing X-51 by the X-51A team to verify that hardware, at maximum payload, up to 200 nautical 14 BOEING FRONTIERS / APRIL 2010 BOEING FRONTIERS / CoVER STORY “I’m confident our work will result in a deployed system that will be a huge benefit to the warfighters.” – Phil Stranahan, integrated software product team lead with Advanced Network & Space Systems PHOTO: MICHAEL GAIL/BOEING GRAPHIC: the X-51A WaveRider is expected to demonstrate the ability of an air-breathing vehicle to exceed speeds of Mach 6. BOEING miles (230 miles, or 370 kilometers) without incorporate changes along the way,” said nanosatellites and picosatellites. these refueling. the SkyHook can be used for Phil Stranahan, who leads an integrated tiny spacecraft (nanosatellites are space- hauling heavy equipment to remote sites for software product team with Advanced craft weighing less than 22 pounds, or uses such as power-line installation, or for Network & Space Systems. “It’s very 10 kilograms; picosatellites weigh less extractive industries, such as mines, when challenging, but I’m confident our work than about 3 pounds, or 1 kilogram) are roads do not exist. will result in a deployed system that will demonstrating both what small satellites At much higher altitudes, a Phantom be a huge benefit to the warfighters.” and smaller components can do to boost Works–led team is successfully demon- In mid-2009, the U.S. Defense the capability of larger satellites. Boeing’s strating an enhancement to the global Advanced Research Projects Agency CubeSat testBed 1 nanosatellite has Positioning System that helps warfighters awarded a Phantom Works–led industry completed more than 10,000 Earth obtain vital positioning information even team a $15.5 million contract for phase 2 orbits and successfully demonstrated when enemies are jamming the signals. of the Fast Access Spacecraft testbed. numerous advanced technologies. the High Integrity gPS program will make the program is an effort to develop a new Also on the drawing board are ideas access to the positioning information ultra-lightweight High Power generation for advanced fighter aircraft for the more reliable. System that can generate up to 175 kilo- U.S. Navy, known as F/A-XX, and a “What’s unique about the program is watts of power for spacecraft. that’s more next-generation U.S. Air Force bomber. that the requirements for the system are power than is currently available to the Wendy teare, an operations analyst developed as the technology matures; International Space Station. with Advanced Boeing Military Aircraft, is so we’ve had to build software that can Boeing also continues research in conducting virtual experiments with Navy BOEING FRONTIERS / APRIL 2010 BOEING FRONTIERS / CoVER STORY 15 engineers and operators in the Virtual allow everyone from power companies to logistics command and control network.” Warfare Center.
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