Boeing hi-tech research has many irons in the fire | Aviation International News

Boeing hi-tech research has many irons in the fire

Hummingbirds are incredibly aerobatic, can hover, fly backward and can even hover and fly upside down.

By Ian Sheppard

June 20, 2007

Hummingbirds are incredibly aerobatic, can hover, fly backward and can even hover and fly upside down. But the most amazing thing about hummingbirds is their endurance–these tiny birds, weighing little more than five grams, fly for 20 hours as they migrate across the Gulf of Mexico.

Endurance is a key requirement of many of the technology projects under way at aerospace giant Boeing, not least its own Hummingbird, otherwise known as the A160. Boeing’s new Hummingbird is the A160T, the previous reciprocating powerplant of this innovative unmanned rotorcraft having been replaced by a Pratt & Whitney turbine engine. This, according to president of advanced systems at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), George Muellner, because his (mostly military) customers have a penchant for heavy fuel.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

KlasJet Wins FAA Approval for U.S. ACMI Operations

Company targets seasonal peaks and capacity shortfalls

Boeing 737 from the rear, on the ground

Vertical Expands UK eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Site

Expanded facility at Cotswold Airport precedes final mass-production location

Vertical VX4 prototype being rolled into new hangar

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

eFlyer 2 in flight

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Two Starfighters Space F-104s in flight

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon and MC-55A Peregrine aircraft

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Textron Aviation rollout of 500th Cessna Citation Latitude

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades

Piaggio Aerospace Avanti Evo aircraft

F-35 Buy Approved As Saudis Struggle to Counter Houthi Threat

Trump administration says $24.3 billion deal will bolster Saudi Arabia's self-defense capability

Formation of three F-35As against clouds