The Aurora Excalibur was an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Aurora Flight Sciences between 2005 and 2010 capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL).[1] The design combined ducted fans and hybrid drive. A smaller scale model with a 13-foot (4.0 m) wingspan was successfully tested on June 24, 2009.[2] A full-scale version was to be capable of carrying four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and traveling at 460 mph (740 km/h).[2] Aurora used the experience of developing this vehicle to inform their submission to the Vertical Take-Off and Landing Experimental Aircraft (VTOL X-Plane) programme funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Aurora wins DARPA VTOL X-Plane program contract". SAE. 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
  2. 1 2 "New Military Drone Passes Vertical Takeoff Test". Fox News. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
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