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Northrop Grumman (Scaled Composites) Firebird

2021 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY FUTURE FLIGHT

History

The Northrop Firebird (Type 355) is a developmental unmanned (though optionally manned) spy for the Intelligence- Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) category airplane. The system has fully autonomous mission capabilities, as well as a proven dual-arm airframe, and can support a variety of sensors and associated equipment to suit the role (four modules can be installed simultaneously via the Quick Swap feature).

In addition, the company offers potential buyers a range of options including ground control station (GCS) customizability, mission-specific load modules and expandable support packages.

The Firebird prototype, designed by experts at Northrop Scaled Composites, completed its maiden flight in February 2010. It was officially shown on May 9, 2011, and entered flight testing at the end of 2012. Firebird was one of the last projects led by now-retired aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan.

The Firebird features a dual-arm arrangement with the fuselage concentrated in the design to carry the cockpit (if manned), avionics, fuel depots, engines, and mission payloads. The engine is embedded in the rear of the fuselage and drives the propeller unit in a "thrust" fashion. The wing main aircraft shoulder is mounted on the side of the fuselage, the inner wall is flat and the outer wall is slightly V-shaped.

The line of the main aircraft is broken by the shell of the main landing lug (using the full tricycle configuration), forming the tip of the outrigger attachment. These attachments pass through the wing panels and terminate in vertical stabilizers at the rear of the aircraft, which are then connected via a single elevator control plane.

The aircraft is certified to carry a payload of up to 1,240 pounds, while being powered by a single-piston-driven Lycoming TEO-540 engine producing 350 horsepower and driving a multi-blade propeller unit. In terms of performance, the platform can fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet for up to 40 hours and reach speeds of 230 miles per hour.

Dimensions include a 65-foot wingspan, 34-foot barrel length, and 9.7-foot height. The MTOW is rated for 5,000 lbs.

Specification

Basic

Year:

2021

Status:

Retired, limited service

Staff:

Production

[2 units] :

Northrop Grumman (Autonomous Division) - United States

Roles

- Reconnaissance (RECCE)

- driverless

Dimensions

Length:

10.3m

Width:

64.96 ft (19.8 m)

Height:

9. 84 feet (3 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

1,170 kg

MTOW:

5,004 lb (2,270 kg)

(difference: +2,425 pt)

Performance

1 x Lycoming TO-549 piston engine (optional HFE accessory) producing 350 hp and arranged in a thruster configuration.

Performance

Service Limit:

30,003 ft (9,145 m; 5.68 mi)

Armor

No. Mission equipment for intelligence gathering missions. Devices can also support other roles such as SIGnals INtelligence (SIGINT), communication relay, and network. Payloads range from up to 700 lbs (internal) to 1,240 lbs.