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Advanced / Transformational Technology

Aurora Flies Subscale VTOL X-Plane For DARPA At U.S. Facility

Monday, April 18th, 2016

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Aurora Flies Subscale VTOL X-Plane For DARPA At U.S. Facility

The 20-percent scale model of the Aurora LightningStrike Vertical Take-off and Landing Experimental Plane (VTOL X-Plane) undergoes a flight test in Maryland. Photo: Aurora Flight Sciences.

Aurora Flight Sciences successfully flew a subscale vehicle demonstrator (SVD) of its LightningStrike Vertical Take-off and Landing Experimental Plane (VTOL X-Plane) at a U.S. military facility for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the company said Monday.The flight was meant to meet a DARPA risk reduction requirement for the test craft that focused on validation of the aerodynamics design and flight control system.The SVD is a 20 percent scale flight, weighing 325 pounds, model of the full scale demonstrator…

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