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ST. LOUIS
,
October 18, 2002
– Boeing
today unveiled the "Bird of Prey," a
technology demonstrator that pioneered
breakthrough low-observable technologies
and revolutionized 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
organization, 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."
The
Boeing Company is the world's largest
manufacturer of satellites, commercial
jetliners and military aircraft. In
terms of sales, Boeing is the largest
exporter in the
United States
. Total company
revenues for 2001 were $58 billion. A
unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems is one of the
world's largest space and defense
businesses. Headquartered in
St. Louis
, Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems is a $23
billion business. It provides systems
solutions to its global military,
government and commercial customers.
Boeing Phantom Works is the catalyst of
innovation within the company. By
working with the company's business
units, it provides advanced solutions
and innovative, breakthrough
technologies that reduce cycle time and
cost while improving the quality and
performance of aerospace products and
services.
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