NASA's X-48C hybrid wing-body plane completes flight test

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. space agency NASA said Friday that its remotely piloted X-48C hybrid wing-body research aircraft has completed its eight-month flight test.

All 30 flights were conducted at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, a tenant of Edwards Air Force. The X-48C typically flew for approximately 30 minutes on most flights, reaching speeds of up to 225 kilometers per hour and attaining an altitude of about 3, 000 meters.

"We have accomplished our goals of establishing a ground-to- flight database, and proving the low speed controllability of the concept throughout the flight envelope," said Fay Collier, manager of NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation project. "Very quiet and efficient, the hybrid wing body has shown promise for meeting all of NASA's environmental goals for future aircraft designs."

The scale-model aircraft, shaped like a manta ray, was designed by The Boeing Co., built by Cranfield Aerospace Limited of the United Kingdom, and flown in partnership with NASA.

"It is bittersweet to see the program come to an end, but we are proud of the safe and extremely successful joint Boeing and NASA flight test program that we have conducted," said Heather Maliska, X-48C project manager at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California.