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An unmanned aerial vehicle that uses blown jets of air instead of conventional mechanical elevators and ailerons has been successfully flight-tested.
The trial flights for the Demon UAV, developed by BAE Systems, Cranfield University and nine other British universities, are the first “flapless flights” to be authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority, BAE said.
The approach has several advantages over traditional “moving flap” technology, including fewer moving parts, less maintenance and enhanced stealth characteristics. The flapless system is part of a concept known as fluidic flight control.
The Demon was tested in wind tunnels and as models before the full-scale flight trials took place.
It is not expected to become a production aircraft, although a number of its technologies will filter through to other aviation platforms, BAE said.
The aircraft successfully demonstrated flapless flight when, for a planned portion of the test-flight, the conventional flap control system was turned off and the Demon flew and manoeuvred using the new technology.
The development follows BAE’s Flapless Air Vehicle Integrated Industrial Research programme (Flaviir), which led to the Demon demonstrator after BAE laid down a “grand challenge” to British universities five years ago.
Richard Williams, BAE Systems programme director for future capability, said: “What the Flaviir team has achieved in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable.
“I was in Cumbria to watch Demon fly and I feel sure I have witnessed a significant moment in aviation history. What makes it even more poignant is that this is the result of British brains collaborating to produce world-leading technology.
“It, and other initiatives like it, will help ensure we maintain both a level of sovereign capability and a competitive edge.”