Boeing Flies New NASA Research Drone for First Time

Boeing photo

A modified version of Boeing’s Blended Wing Body research aircraft recently completed its first test flight, the company announced Tuesday.

The X-48C succeeds the B model, which was used between 2007 and 2010 by NASA’s Dryden Center for research missions.

Some of the C model’s new features include flight control limiters, an estimated top speed of 140 miles per hour and a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet.

Boeing says the X-48C is also 8.5 percent smaller than other heavy-lift subsonic airplanes.

During the nine-minute flight test , the X-48C reached to a 5,500-foot altitude over Edwards Air Force Base in California.

NASA, Cranfield Aerospace and the U.S. Air Force are working with Boeing for the X-48C project.

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