DARPA Selects Aurora Flight Sciences for Phase 2 of Active Flow Control X-Plane

DARPA enters a new phase in creation of an aircraft with no exterior moving parts.

DARPA has selected Aurora Flight Sciences to design a full-scale X-plane that relies solely on changes in air flow for in-flight maneuvers.


DARPA Twitter

quote:

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DARPA has selected Aurora Flight Sciences to move into the detailed design phase of the Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program. This follows successful completion of the project’s Phase 1 preliminary design, which resulted in an innovative testbed aircraft that used active flow control (AFC) to generate control forces in a wind tunnel test. Phase 2 will focus on detailed design and development of flight software and controls, culminating in a critical design review of an X-plane demonstrator that can fly without traditional moving flight controls on the exterior of the wings and tail.

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Defense-Aerospace

I just thought I would share this with those of you that are interested in this kind of stuff, like me. Reminds me of the "mythical" TR-3B.



Remember, we didn't have an F-117, (that we knew about), until we learned about it during Desert Storm.