Museum welcomes pioneering technology

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DAYTON, Ohio (AFPN) --  Two aircraft technology demonstrators will become part of the U.S. Air Force Museum in a turnover ceremony July 16.

The Bird of Prey and X-36 technology demonstrators will be officially transferred to the museum during the ceremony.

Featuring a shape similar to its Klingon namesake from “Star Trek” fame, Boeing Company’s Bird of Prey served as a highly classified project from 1992 to 1999 before company officials unveiled it Oct. 18. Museum experts said its flight tests helped prove many stealth concepts and revolutionized aircraft design, development and production.

A joint program between Boeing and NASA, the X-36 tailless fighter agility research aircraft successfully completed a 31-flight research program at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, Calif., in November 1997. The subscale aircraft was developed as a prototype fighter aircraft designed for stealth and agility.

"Adding these two aircraft to our collection is significant because they've helped pioneer revolutionary capabilities that are being integrated into current aircraft as well as future aircraft designs," said retired Maj. Gen. Charles Metcalf, the museum director. "They will reinforce our efforts to inform the public about the continuing need for technological innovation and how that innovation is shaping the world's greatest Air Force."

The Bird of Prey is suspended from the gallery rafters while the X-36 is displayed at ground level, museum officials said.

A subsonic, single-seat aircraft, the Bird of Prey completed 38 test flights as part of its flight-test program. The first flight took place in 1996; the project cost $67 million, according to Air Force officials.

The X-36 project team developed and demonstrated the tailless fighter design using advanced technologies to enhance future fighter aircraft's maneuverability and survivability. The program met or exceeded all program goals during its 25-week, 31-flight period in 1997, officials said. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)