home Security Military First Electric Unmanned Flight by US Air Force

First Electric Unmanned Flight by US Air Force

Jan 24, 2022

US Air Force photo by NARA — The U.S. Air Force symbol is base on the original Hap Arnold wings and represents many different aspects of the serviceÕs proud heritage and future. It retains the core elements of our Air Corps heritage Ð the "Arnold" wings and star with circle Ð and modernizes them to reflect our aerospace force of today and tomorrow. The symbol has two main parts. In the upper half, the stylized wings represent the stripes of our strength Ð the enlisted men and women of our force. The great angularity emphasizes our swiftness and power. They are divided into six sections which represent our core capabilities Ð aerospace superiority, global attack, rapid global mobility, precision engagement, information superiority, and agile combat support. The lower half has a sphere, a star and three diamonds. The sphere within the star represents the globe. To remind us of our obligation to secure our nationÕs freedom with Global Vigilance, Reach, and Power. The globe also reminds us of our challenge as an expeditionary force to respond rapidly to crises and to provide decisive aerospace power, worldwide. The area surrounding the sphere takes the shape of a star. The star has many meanings. Its five points represent the components of our one force and family Ð our active duty, civilians, Guard, Reserve, and retirees. The star symbolizes space as the high ground of our nationÕs aerospace force. The rallying symbol in all our wars, the star also represents our officer corps, central to our combat leadership. The star framed with three diamonds, represent our core values Ð integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. The elements come together to form one symbol that presents two powerful images Ð at once; it is an eagle, the emblem of our nation, and a medal, representing valor in service to our nation.

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

The US Air Force successfully completed the first flight of an electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft with an Air Force pilot at the remote controls. The flights of the Kitty Hawk unmanned Heaviside electric aircraft were conducted last December as part of the Air Force’s AFWERX Agility Prime program, designed to find ways to encourage accelerated technical innovation in private companies and transition agile, affordable, and accelerated capabilities.

Kitty Hawk’s series of Heaviside aircraft are just several in a line of over 20 various eVTOL prototypes. In July 2021, the USAF granted Kitty Hawk airworthiness approval, enabling the company to take advantage of additional testing opportunities through a partnership with Agility Prime.

The Heaviside is Kitty Hawk’s current flying model. The company has worked through several iterations of this vehicle and is in the planning stages for the next. The aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight is approximately 880 pounds, allowing for a passenger up to about 176 pounds. Heaviside can travel at speeds of roughly 180 miles per hour, but most significantly, it remains quiet: only about 35 decibels at 1,500 feet above ground level, which is slightly louder than a whisper and about 100 times quieter than a helicopter.

Additionally, Heaviside has demonstrated 237 transitions between hover and forward flight, as well as a range of 100 miles on a single charge.

Heaviside takes advantage of several advanced technologies, such as Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), as this aircraft has eight fully electric propellers. The company has refined its use of automated flight capabilities through its Ground Control Station (GCS); engineers can upload a flight plan, telling the vehicle to fly to certain locations, and the Heaviside can perform the entire flight profile without human intervention.

However, a training feature of the Heaviside is the Buddy Box setup, which is a secondary remote controller wired to a primary controller. This system is intended for the use of an instructor and a student performing the duties of an external pilot in manual flight mode; the trainee handles and operates the aircraft while the instructor provides supervision and support.

The Heaviside and future models will not rely on an external pilot for flight operations, but utilizing this training method now affords the opportunity for more immediate and qualitative feedback on the aircraft, while also building out a training syllabus for the GCS operator, according to wpafb.af.mil.