Friday, November 27, 2015

Lockheed-built X-56A UAV crashes at USAF test range

Lockheed-built X-56A crashes at USAF test range

from 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

11/20/2015

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — An Air Force Research Laboratory-sponsored X-56A unmanned air vehicle crashed on November 19 at approximately 9:30 Pacific Daylight Time on Rogers Dry Lakebed test range at Edwards AFB, California. The mishap occurred shortly after takeoff.

Initial estimates report severe damage to the vehicle. There are no reports of injuries or property damage at this time. Edwards AFB emergency responders were on scene.

An accident investigation team has been established to investigate what occurred, identify lessons learned, and determine how to move forward.



X-56A · Lockheed Martin
The X-56A is an experimental unmanned multi-utility technology testbed designed to demonstrate
active flutter suppression and gust load alleviation in flight. The aircraft previously made 16 successful flights spending approximately six hours in the air.

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File photo:

VIRIN: 150304-F-IW159-012
Some  of the technology on display was not solely to NASA's credit. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory also worked with NASA on the X-56, a 28-foot wing span unmanned aerial vehicle designed to test active control of flexible structures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber/Released)

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