I have seen brief pictures of a delta shaped UAV that I would love to model. I believe this UAV was built by Boeing? It is currently being used by the U.S. Air Force. Does anyone have any pictures of this UAV that they could post? I think this is a fairly new UAV, I have not found any pictures of it on the internet. It could be because I don't know the proper name, I have been searching under "Delta UAV". Thanks for any information that you may provide. The top of this plane has an intake that has a "W" shape to it.

Wayne ,
did you try Boeing's web site ? I seen it in there about 2 months ago - don't know if it's still there though....

Jackjet

Hi Wayne, you might find some info here, I know the airframe you are talking about and will see if I can find a pic of it for you.
BRG,
Chris. at TJT


http://www.aeronautics.ru/uavlist.htm

hmmm.......thanks for your help Jack and Chris. Still no luck in finding any pictures. I tried the Boeing website and didn't see anything on this UAV. I am wondering if this is just a concept or reality. I don't think it would be classified info since there is so much info on the Predator, and that UAV is definitely in use today. The only picture that I have seen of this Delta UAV was in "Aviation Week" and it was just a partial shot. It was an ad for Boeing. Thanks for the help and please do post any information that you may find. Any of you guys out there work for Boeing?

Are you talking about the X-45 UCAV concept? Here's a link

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/x-45-ucav/

There are others out there too...

...or is it the A-12 Avenger II? The flying Dorito? This is a plane I've been thinking a lot about.
http://www.habu2.net/a12/a12_a04.htm
Chris

Or, it could be X-47 Pegasus, by Northrop-Grumman. It's the backward-kite shape planform.

wow....those are awesome....but the one that I was interested in had the intake shape more like the one in this picture. Also, I am almost sure it is/was built from Boeing. Thanks, please keep the info coming. I like the two above UAV's, they are close to what I had in mind but I don't think we have found the one that I was referring to.

http://www.invisible-defenders.org/p...uavs/x-45c.htm

I found it! Go to the above website. Thanks everyone!

Now I see that Ron S. had the right plane, just a different version. Ron was showing us the current version and I was looking for the old version.

How do they get away with no verticle fin? I am beginning to scrap hopes that a plane of this design could be flown as a jet model.

I don't pretend to know the details of how Boeing and others get these tailless designs to work, but when I was lucky enough to have some contact with Mark Sumich, program director for the X-36 project, I found that they had successfully created a YAW vectoring exhaust nozzle, as well as some pretty sophisticated software to control it. Part of that system included a rate gyro for the yaw axis, connected to a vane on the outside of the aircraft, which served as the "trigger". Maybe these new designs are an evolution?

Some of the tailless designs (B-2 for example) use split ailerons for yaw control. These move up and down like conventional ailerons, and also split to create drag. The splitting function can be actuated independently to control yaw, or together as spoilers. I guess you call this a spoileruderon.

It can be done with existing model technology but the handling qualities might not be very fun. I did a 14', 50lb, twin DF of what became the Darkstar UAV back in '93. Used 2 sets of split "drag rudders" to control yaw. The outboard set was hooked to the rudder channel with a gyro for short period oscillations. The inboard set was independent and was hooked up to an external beta vane for the long period stuff. Also used elevons for pitch & roll. The company chief flight controls expert told me that all roll inputs needed to be led by rudder both for roll in and roll out. Well, when I tried the first turn after takeoff, I had a momentary lapse and used aileron only and the aircraft didn't bank, whereupon I remembered and stuck the rudder in. After that, for every roll action, I matched both thumbs on the sticks. That was a mostly straight wing aircraft, a swept wing might not be as bad. Some of the toughest R/C flying I've ever done.

There's better equipment on the market today. If I were going to try it again, I'd look at incorporating one of the autopilot's or pilot assist modules that are out there. If you're going to try it, build something simple and inexpensive to try first, like maybe an Enforcer without verticals.

Hey Rick
Don't be giving out the trade secrets! Thats what makes it fun for me at jet events.....hiding under the tent!
I'll See you in a few weeks, without stabs on your Topcat.

have a good one

Justin Sands

Wayne its definately the X-47 pegasus as Ron mentioned.
[link=http://www.geocities.com/xplanes2000/ucav_n.jpg]Pegasus[/link]

DARN PICTURE DIDNT WORK, AGHHH!

uuuhhh, I didn't tell them everything I know. There were some other things much harder than the yaw problem (like a certain program manager who didn't like it when I told him there was only a 50-50 chance of a successful flight).

See you at AZ jets. TopCat will have the stabs so we won't have to hide.

Rick

Is this the one?, I could not open any of the links above

This is Darkstar. I think Wayne H has the image in his last post of the concept airplane he was looking for.

The plane that I had in question is the X-45C.