NextGen Aeronautics successfully flight-tests shape-changing morphing wing

TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 2006 – NextGen Aeronautics, with support from the Boeing Phantom Works advanced research and development organization, successfully flight-tested a shape-changing, morphing wing Aug. 1 on a sub-scale, jet powered 100-pound RC -UAV, named MFX-1.

The flight tests were performed at the Camp Roberts, Calif., military flight test range. This first ever flight-test of a wing whose area, chord, sweep and aspect ratio can be changed in-flight builds upon three-years of DARPA sponsored R&D work at NextGen on Morphing Aircraft Structures (MAS) as well as related programs from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Dayton, Ohio.

The MFX-1 wing features several technical innovations including innovative flexible wing skin designs which can undergo strains in excess of 100 percent while withstanding air loads of up to 400 pounds per square foot, and kinematic, light-weight, wing substructure which enables the wing to morph. The geometry change is implemented using an efficient, internal electro-mechanical actuation system. In-flight area change of 40 percent, span change of 30 percent and wing sweep varying from 15 degrees to 35 degrees were demonstrated in-flight at flight speeds around 100 knots.

This highly successful test represents the first step in the development of a morphing UAV whose wing geometry can be quickly and reversibly changed to optimize the aircraft for dramatically different flight conditions – for instance, from an efficient, high-altitude loiter shape to an efficient high-speed attack mode - and will lead to the development of the next generation of bio-inspired multifunctional air vehicles with multi-role military capabilities.

As a next step, under DARPA sponsorship, NextGen and Boeing Phantom Works are currently developing the MFX-2, a 200-pound, twin-jet morphing UAV, with a larger and improved morphing wing design. The MFX-2 will be tested in a wind tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center in November 2006 flight tested in Jan 2007.

NextGen Aeronautics was started in 2003 by an experienced technical and management team with R&D, advanced design, production and management background from industry, academia, DoD and NASA with a vision of developing revolutionary technologies for the next century of flight.

As part of Boeing's long-range business strategy, its Phantom Works advanced research and development organization defines and develops innovative technologies and systems to meet future aerospace needs.