Skunk Works to research morphing

The Antelope Valley Press ^ | Tuesday, February 11, 2003. | ALLISON GATLIN

[BenLurkin]

PALMDALE - Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.'s legendary Skunk Works once again will work to stretch the bounds of aviation and imagination with a $9.3 million contract to development technologies for future aircraft that can change their shape to meet changing flight needs.

This morphing aircraft structures program calls for "seamless, aerodynamically efficient, aerial vehicles capable of radical shape change," according to the contract award from the U.S. Air Force.

[BenLurkin]

An "Aerospace Valley" Bump!

[TomB]

Bump for all the Free Republic aero "experts" who will soon be here telling us why this cannot be done.

[theFIRMbss]

>"seamless, aerodynamically efficient, aerial vehicles capable of radical shape change"

Sort of like the things
UFO people report
seeing in our skies?

[Sir Gawain]

[Warren]

Change from Jet aircraft to flying SUV's.

[Jimmyclyde]

I watched the Nova special on the X plane wars a few days ago.

The Skunk works are awesome!

The stuff they come up with is beyond incredible.

With that said, I thought Boeing did a great job with their aircraft as well.

The design was a little "different", but it's performance was great.

If morphing can be done, skunk works will do it.

[Dead Dog]

except the Boeing JSF was fugly, and resembled the CEO.

[Poohbah]

With that said, I thought Boeing did a great job with their aircraft as well.

The design was a little "different", but it's performance was great.

The Boeing X-32 was doomed when it arrived at Patuxent Rover and got christened "Monica."

[Dead Dog]

[Poohbah]

It looks like they tried to make an A-7 SLUF into a stealth aircraft.

[Dead Dog]

Boeing built an ugly bomber 50 years ago, they just didn't understand that nothing sells to the AF better than a sexy airplane. Monica ain't sexy.

[TomB]

The Skunk works are awesome!

Without a doubt.

If you look at the development of the SR-71, you see that it is nothing short of one of the most mind-boggling acheivements in history. The plane is 40 years old, developed at a time when jets were still a rather new technology, and it remains the fastest, most advanced jet ever made (that we....ahem....know of). It is still a marvel now in 2003, in 1964 it was essentially all but extraterrestrial. I once (half) jokingly said that the Blackbird is the best evidence we have of being visited by aliens, because no human could have come up with that.

The world is a lesser place without Kelly Johnson.

[tet68]

The same with the U-2, it has a jet engine but flies above
jet altitude, those guys are awesome.

[tet68]

I suppose I should have said "at the time."

[Jimmyclyde]

The Boeing X-32 was doomed when it arrived at Patuxent Rover and got christened "Monica."

Ouch!!

Nova didn't mention that, LOL!

[quark]

Um, Lockheed, someone call Northrop-Grumman and ask them about the F-14. It's only 30+ years old.

Government idiots. $9.3M bucks...a waste.

[BenLurkin]

Blackbird Airpark - Palmdale, California
"The Blackbird Airpark was dedicated in September 1991. It is the world's only display of a Lockheed SR-71A together with its Blackbird predecessor, the A-12, and the once ultra-secret D-21 drone. The airpark was established to preserve the proud heritage of the entire Blackbird family and, through the restoration, preservation and display of these unique aircraft, provide the visiting public with an interesting and educational experience. Construction of the airpark was managed by the High Desert Contractors Association. Most of the labor and material was donated by association members, other businesses, private parties and suppliers in the Southern California area. The Flight Test Historical Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is raising funds for improvements to the airpark, and the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Museum at Edwards Air Force Base is responsible for the airpark's day-to-day management. The aircraft on display, A-12 #60-6924 and SR-71A #64-17973, are USAF Museum Program property and are on loan (the A-12 to the AFFTC Museum and the SR-71A to Detachment 1, Aeronautical Systems Center, at Plant 42) for display at the Blackbird Airpark." http://www.edwards.af.mil/museum/docs_html/blackbird_airpark.html

[Poohbah]

This idea goes much further than the F-14 ever did. Need more anhedral or dihedral? No problem.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

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