Paris 2011: Phantom Eye Nears First Flight
Boeing’s Phantom Works h

Boeing’s Phantom Works has taken a number of important strides toward flying the Phantom Eye high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The first vehicle has just completed 12 days of ground vibration and structural mode interaction tests at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It has also had its fuel tanks filled for the first time.

Phantom Eye is powered by a pair of four-cylinder, 2.3-liter engines, based on a Ford motor engine and each generating 150 hp. What is remarkable is that they are fueled by hydrogen, held in two large tanks. Nitrogen was used for the first tank-filling tests, which focused on fueling procedures and assessment of the air vehicle in its full-weight configuration.

Loading…