Boeing Completes First JSF X-32A Aerial Refueling
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2000 -- The Boeing Joint Strike Fighter X-32A concept demonstrator aircraft yesterday successfully completed its first aerial refueling.
Flying at 20,000 feet and 235 knots, the X-32A maneuvered into the refueling drogue and effortlessly maintained its position below the KC-10 tanker.
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Philip "Rowdy" Yates, the U.S. government's lead test pilot for the Boeing JSF program, said the successful flight validated the handling qualities required for the Navy air-refueling task.
"The reliability and 'flyability' of the X-32A is impressive and has allowed us to step very quickly through these X-32A test objectives," Yates said.
Following refueling, the X-32A continued to expand the flight envelope. As of today, the X-32A has made 45 flights.
"We're extremely pleased with our fly rate, and also with the fact that we've met 100 percent of the customer's aircraft carrier variant (CV) test objectives so early in the program," said Mike Heinz, Boeing vice president and JSF deputy program manager. "I think our success goes a long way toward demonstrating to the customer how well we will perform during the next phase of the program.
"We're also gratified that the Boeing JSF flight test program to date has shown the customer unprecedented matching of actual performance with what we predicted through years of simulation."
As part of the planned five-month flight-test program at Edwards, the Boeing X-32A will complete approximately 60 flights totaling about 75 hours to validate the JSF's predicted flying characteristics. The flights are split approximately 50-50 between CV and conventional-takeoff-and-landing (CTOL) tests.
On Dec. 2, Boeing successfully completed its customer-required CV tests, designed to demonstrate flying and handling qualities during simulated low-speed aircraft carrier approach. Boeing is now using the X-32A to expand the flight envelope and demonstrate key performance capabilities of the CTOL variant.
"Our Air Force and Navy designs are so highly common -- same wing, same systems -- we're using one aircraft, the X-32A, to demonstrate both the CV and CTOL handling qualities without any modifications or changes to the aircraft," Heinz added.
The second of the two Boeing JSF concept demonstrators, the X-32B, will demonstrate short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps, U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The aircraft has the same wing and is approximately 90 percent common with the X-32A.
Boeing completed X-32B structural mode integration testing Dec. 10 in Palmdale, Calif., a precursor to ongoing STOVL engine runs. Low-speed taxi tests and first flight of the X-32B will occur next year.
Boeing X-32 flight test is another key piece of the company's aggressive risk-reduction program, following closely on the heels of its groundbreaking avionics flying lab demonstrations, full-mission simulation demonstrations, and full-scale signature and supportability pole model testing.
The Boeing-led One Team is competing to build the JSF under a four-year U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps concept demonstration contract, while also defining the design for the operational JSF. A winner is scheduled to be selected in 2001.
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Contact Info:
Randy Harrison
(206) 655-8655
randolph.c.harrison@boeing.com
Chick Ramey
(206) 662-0949
charles.b.ramey@boeing.com
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