BAE Systems future technologies: MAGMA Unmanned Air Vehicle flight trials

In a series of ground-breaking flight trials that took place in the skies above north-west Wales, the MAGMA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrated two innovative flow control technologies, which could revolutionise future aircraft design.

[@metanumia]

This is a very impressive new technology, congratulations to the university scientists and BAE engineers! These technologies have great potential for military applications. Particularly in the engineering of future military aircraft, since these aerodynamic control technologies will massively reduce radar cross-section (RCS) by eliminating moving control surfaces like ailerons. Which makes me wonder, why was this shared with the public and in so much detail?

[@Anarchy_420]

They must be confident its not so simple to replicate results just from viewing a test flight ;)

[@CISMD]

Where is the explanation of the innovative flow control technology? And where was it shown?

[@SidorovichJr]

forgot to press N to lower landing gear

[@MakeeScience]

looks very interesting! Like a RQ-170 Sentinel

[@Anarchy_420]

Yeah forget the 170, unfortunately that's Iran's now, but fear not! It's all about The RQ-180 now! ;) I was thinking The X-45A and X-47B, however yes it also resembles The RQ-180. They all resemble one another, even slightly The B-21 Raider

[@spyderyaxis88]

Radar cross section must be minimal

[@markmiller6844]

Maybe IF it did not have a vertical stabilizer and it has two. Titled towards the ground as well; more visible to ground to air weapons detection. It's to look stealthy but it's not actually stealthy. Regardless, that has nothing to do with the technology being demonstrated; Fluidic Thrust Vectoring, which is of interest.

[@lordofthewin6452]

looks like a modernised Horton 229

[@G777GUN]

Why still use ailerons?

[@nightjarflying]

It uses ailerons/flaps for most of the flight. They are centralised & locked for the short periods of testing in flight when controlled air flow is employed instead..

[@AnthonyHigham6414001080]

A little bit worrying that the supersonically blown air that directs the thrust in the pitch axis has to be on in order to maintain nose up. Switch off the air and you get full nose down thrust. Now where have I heard something like that before? What could possibly go wrong? "Flap-free flight" pdf here; file:///C:/Users/Pc%20User/Downloads/MAGMA_infographic.pdf

[@markmiller6844]

Um... Your link is not to an internet address but to a file on your own computer.

[@glennridsdale577]

What a genius.

[@Mr.mysterious76]

How do you mess up a link

[@felixmeyer1972]

Was soll dieser Unsinn ? Quatsch Quatsch Quatsch

[@sunshinekid6922]

The aircraft had standard ailerons. The linkage was clearly visible and the rear view of the wing in flight was obvious that there was no ducted air controls for flight control. The only "innovation" was the absence of landing/takeoff flaps, which, as any pilot will tell you, only increases your slow speed control, which is why they are retracted after obtaining sufficient air speed.

[@STKS1991]

Had you been paying attention you would have noticed that the control surfaces were only used for takeoff with the following manoeuvres being performed with ducted air.

[@sunshinekid6922]

@@STKS1991 The control surfaces were used in turn and bank. I do know how they work and what they do. I recognize the difference between a takeoff, a banking maneuver and a recovery to a straight and level flight. And that is what happened. If ducted air was used for the turn and bank and recovery to level flight, it was NOT obvious.

[@STKS1991]

@@sunshinekid6922 might want to get your eyes tested m8

[@peteoconnor6388]

@@sunshinekid6922 I'm not sure you understand the concepts of aerodynamic flight, I saw a plane manoeuvre w/o the use of control surfaces.

[@sunshinekid6922]

@@peteoconnor6388 Then obviously you have never been both a pilot and an airframe technician. I have. I've worked on everything from B-52s down to O-2s, and have flown several types of aircraft. The trialing edges of the aircraft in flight MOVED. That is a physical fact as evidenced in the video. If you cann't see the movement, you obviously have bad eyesight.

[@markshulz8351]

primitive