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Scaled Composites First Flight Model 401 [Video]
Scaled Composites has successfully completed the first flight of its most recent project, experimental aircraft Model 401. (www.youtube.com) Más...Interesting air intake behind the cockpit.
Good looking little rig. As per the other comments, I definitely see some "drone-like" aspects to this aircraft. I'll bet we'll be seeing several rather unusual mission fits and roles for this wee beast.
"The theory is highly speculative but maybe there is something to it. Having one aircraft be manned and a near identical copy be unmanned, with a fairing replacing the canopy and covering the cockpit, and avionics and a satellite communications systems taking the cockpit's place, would allow for manned and unmanned tests of equipment on a common platform.
Once again, such a concept would also allow for these tests to occur over areas that currently do not allow unpiloted aircraft operations. This would not only be advantageous for getting new systems fielded faster but it would also provide a control variable for testing manned versus unmanned capabilities against each other."
Quoted from: http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/15105/watch-scaled-composites-stealthy-new-test-aircraft-takeoff-for-the-first-time
Once again, such a concept would also allow for these tests to occur over areas that currently do not allow unpiloted aircraft operations. This would not only be advantageous for getting new systems fielded faster but it would also provide a control variable for testing manned versus unmanned capabilities against each other."
Quoted from: http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/15105/watch-scaled-composites-stealthy-new-test-aircraft-takeoff-for-the-first-time
Those "plastic" airplane builders out there in the desert seem awfully slow to run out of ideas don't they!