Improved Global Hawk tests at Edwards

Valley Press on ^ | Monday, April 16, 2007.

[BenLurkin]

PALMDALE - Northrop Grumman said the first of an improved version of the Global Hawk robot spy plane is at Edwards AFB for testing after making its maiden flight from Air Force Plant 42.

With a wider wingspan and the ability to carry more sensors inside its fuselage, the first "Block 20" RQ-4 Global Hawk made its first flight March 1 , Northrop Grumman announced last week. Designated AF-8, the aircraft took off at 6:58 a.m. from Palmdale, climbed to 32,000 feet and landed at 8:31 a.m. at Edwards before a crowd of cheering Air Force officials and Northrop Grumman employees. Two F-16s served as chase aircraft.

"The Block 20 Global Hawk performed beautifully," said Randy Brown, Global Hawk Program Director with the U.S. Air Force's 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, following the flight.

"The Block 20 Global Hawk has a 15-foot-wider wingspan, a redesigned and strengthened fuselage and a 3,000-pound internal payload capacity, said Gary Ervin, sector vice president for Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems sector.

The first Block 20 aircraft is the 17th Global Hawk air vehicle to be built. Northrop Grumman produced the first seven air vehicles under the advanced concept technology demonstration phase of the program. Nine Block 10 aircraft have been produced, including the two aircraft supporting the global war on terrorism and two U.S. Navy aircraft operated under the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration program

Northrop Grumman workers assemble the aircraft at the company's Palmdale manufacturing facility.

Controlled by computer, the Global Hawk flies at altitudes up to 65,000 feet. Once mission parameters are programmed into its computer system, the vehicle can take off, fly, return and land under its own control. It can be given new tasks while in the air to meet the immediate intelligence needs of battlefield commanders.

[llevrok]

link to site with flight videos

http://media.primezone.com/noc/

[BenLurkin]

Thanks!