Boeing’s Australia division, primarily based in Brisbane, has introduced on Mandy that pre-production unmanned teaming plane, known as the Loyal Wingman, accomplished the primary high-speed taxi check in preparation for first flight.
“We’ve reached high-speed taxi testing forward of the Loyal Wingman’s first flight with Royal Australian Air Power in early 2021,” the corporate mentioned in a Twitter put up Monday.
The small print got in a 21 December media launch, to announce Boeing check personnel monitored the plane’s efficiency and instrumentation from a floor management station to confirm the performance whereas the automobile reached accelerated speeds. The uncrewed plane has been present process low-, medium-, and high-speed taxi testing at a distant check location in Australia.
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“Our check program is progressing properly, and we’re pleased with the bottom check information now we have collected to this point,” mentioned Paul Ryder, Boeing Flight Check supervisor. “We’re working with the Air Warfare Centre to finish ultimate check verifications to organize for flight testing within the new 12 months.”
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Power will resume ultimate taxi checks and preparations for flight in early 2021 when the vary reopens.
RAAF Head of Air Power Functionality Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts mentioned seeing the plane in particular person throughout the December trials had been extraordinary.
“There’s something very particular about testing an plane that takes expertise to the subsequent stage. It’s iconic in its personal approach,” mentioned Roberts. “Experiencing the passion of the Boeing and Air Power workforce jogged my memory of my early profession testing plane.”
“That is what innovation is all about – working collectively to realize many firsts,” she mentioned.
Greater than 35 Australian suppliers on the Australian trade workforce have contributed to the plane improvement, together with funding associate BAE Programs Australia, which has been embedded with the Boeing check workforce on-site.
“Up to now 12 months alone, now we have made wonderful strides on this plane, taking it from a fuselage to a completed plane that has undergone rigorous testing,” mentioned Dr. Shane Arnott, program director of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System. “Our focus now’s on conducting a protected and safe flight-test routine for the Loyal Wingman program.”
Watch our workforce put the uncrewed #LoyalWingman by its paces throughout taxi testing earlier than first flight with @AusAirForce. #AirpowerTeaming pic.twitter.com/ZjVIYenQzx
— Boeing Australia (@BoeingAustralia) December 20, 2020