Western Museum of Flight: Celebrity Lecture Series

The X-47 Story: Navy Unmanned Combat Aircraft

November 18, 2023 11 AM Lecture

John R. Whittenbury Director Aircraft Advanced Design Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems

Paving the Way for Unmanned Carrier Aviation

The Navy Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) with the Northrop Grumman X-47B performed the first-ever catapult launch, airspace/deck operations, and arrested recovery aboard an aircraft carrier of a tailless, unmanned, autonomous aircraft, and later pioneered unmanned, autonomous aerial refueling. Together with its X-47A predecessor, these programs demonstrated technologies for Navy Unmanned Combat Aircraft. Come learn about the history and accomplishments of these programs from team member and former Navy UCAS Chief Engineer John Whittenbury.

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