ST. LOUIS, Oct. 18 - Boeing today unveiled the "Bird of Prey," a technology
demonstrator that pioneered breakthrough low-observable technologies and
revolutionised aircraft design, development and production. The once highly
classified project ran from 1992 through 1999, and was revealed because the
technologies and capabilities developed have become industry standards, and
it is no longer necessary to conceal the aircraft's existence.
In addition to proving many new stealth concepts, the Bird of Prey program
demonstrated innovative rapid prototyping techniques. Developed by the
Boeing Phantom Works advanced research-and-development organisation, the
Bird of Prey was among the first to initiate the use of large, single-piece
composite structures; low-cost, disposable tooling; and 3-D virtual reality
design and assembly processes to ensure the aircraft was affordable to build
as well as high-performing.
Fully funded by Boeing, the Bird of Prey project costs $67 million. A
subsonic, single-seat technology demonstrator, the aircraft completed 38
test flights as part of its flight-demonstration program. Its first flight
took place in fall 1996. Bird of Prey has a wingspan of approximately 23
feet and a length of 47 feet, and weighs nearly 7,400 pounds. Powered by a
Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5C turbofan engine, the Bird of Prey has an
operational speed of 260 knots and a maximum operating altitude of 20,000
feet.
"Early investments in technology demonstration projects such as Bird of Prey
have positioned Boeing to help shape our industry's transformation," said
Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "With
this aircraft, we changed the rules on how to design and build an aircraft,
and what we've learned is enabling us to provide our customers with
affordable, high-performing products. Projects such as Bird of Prey have
provided the catalyst for integrating speed, agility and reduced cost into
the processes we employ to introduce new commercial and military systems to
market."
Boeing's current development of the X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, or
UCAV, technology demonstrator draws directly on its Bird of Prey experience.
Some aspects of the UCAV's innovative radar-evading design, such as its
shape and inlet, were developed from this project. Together, Boeing Phantom
Works and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems are developing UCAV for the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and the U.S. Air Force.
"The success of the Bird of Prey is a testament to the shared commitment of
Boeing and the Air Force to pioneering innovative methods to drive down
costs and improve performance," said George Muellner, senior vice president
of Air Force Systems for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "This project
stressed affordability as much as performance and quality, and is one of
many that we are using to define the future of aerospace."
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