X-47B makes first trap

The X-47B unmanned aerial vehicle, flying out of Patuxent River Maryland, successfully made its first arrested landing on the runway there. It's another step towards showing that the aircraft can operate off the deck of an aircraft carrier.

The trap is one of the hardest maneuvers in flying a naval aircraft. This one was completed entirely by computer control, with a human LSO watching over it beside the runway. This is just another step towards a full up flight from an aircraft carrier.

The Northrop Grumman X-47B test bed has completed its first landing using an arrestor cable on 4 May, the same method used to land on an aircraft carrier, bringing the aircraft one step closer to an actual carrier landing.

The landing, conducted at the US Navy's flight test airfield at Patuxent River, Maryland, was successful. Called a 'trap' in Navy parlance, the manoeuvre is one of the most challenging tasks Navy pilots regularly conduct. In contrast, the X-47Bs' trap was conducted completely by computer guidance, with human oversight from a landing officer beside the runway.

"It moves us a critical step closer to proving that unmanned systems can be integrated seamlessly into Navy carrier operations," says Capt Jaime Engdahl, the Navy's programme manager. "The entire system has performed very well across a large set of shore-based testing events including aircraft performance, flying qualities, navigation performance, catapult launches, and precision landings designed to stress system operation."

Source

reply to post by Zaphod58


zaph... did that guy already manage to land on a carrier? Or... am I really that outdated already? (I've been out since late 2011)

reply to post by FraternitasSaturni


It's done deck testing, but only taxi and EM tests. It probably won't make a trap on ship until late next year, or 2015 if I'm remembering the schedule right. I think they're planning on doing launches off the ship first, with landings at Pax River, and then full up traps and launches around 2015.

I imagine its easier for the damn computer to land an aircraft on a carrier than a pilot. Especially todays computers that can take in massive amounts of data to correct for glideslope, altitute, etc. and not to mention high seas too.

Makes one wonder of they will install fly by wire for normal piloted landings too....we loose a few good pilots every now and then in accidents from training.....
The system would be good in a stormy situation with lots of deck movement, pitch, roll, etc.....

Hey Zaphod. Did you see this story?

gizmodo.com...

reply to post by grey580


Now they just have the minor problem that the F-35 has. They can't actually land on the ship yet. They say that the navy, yet again, gave faulty data for the arrestor system which means only something like 10% of traps are successful with the current tail hook on the X-47.

Reports are that they may attempt their first touch and go landings on the Bush within a few weeks, if not a matter of days now. The aircraft has been remarkably stable and is advancing along nicely through the program.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Still have all that deck crew though...time to think bigger

Originally posted by Zaphod58
Reports are that they may attempt their first touch and go landings on the Bush within a few weeks, if not a matter of days now. The aircraft has been remarkably stable and is advancing along nicely through the program.

Yesterday, as it turns out

reply to post by _Del_


Just before touch down....

Touch and go

This one looks like just after...

On the deck

The Navy is hoping to make the first "real" carrier landing today some time. They will make at least three traps on the Bush this week, while she sails off Virginia. The X-47 will depart Pax River, land on the Bush, where it will be checked out, before launching, and circling the ship to land again.

Here's a touch and go



Makes you wonder how many more of those birds they can stuff on a carrier and just use remote pilots.

reply to post by grey580


The wingspan, extended, is 62.1 feet, and 16.5 feet folded. The wingspan on a Super Hornet (by far the most common aircraft found on a carrier deck), is 44 feet 8 1/2 inches, folded it's 27.4 feet. The X-47B length is 38.2 feet, compared to 60.3 feet for the Super Hornet.

So just going by numbers, you could fit quite a few of these on the deck of a Nimitz or Ford class.

www.navy.mil...


Success! X47b makes the worlds first unmanned aircraft arrested carrier landing!

reply to post by Zaphod58


Not sure if this is accurate but it certainly shows the size difference

Amazing technology but they slowly and surly move against the man’s biggest dream…

FLIGHT….!

At least two traps today.

A good day's work...

From the deck:


Not great video, but there it is..

2 for 2 on the 3 wire.

reply to post by _Del_


The sad part is that once these tests are done, so is the X-47. They're going to be demilitarized, and sent to museums. One will end up at the museum at Pensacola.

ETA: One more video, from the deck, different angle.