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Nigel G Wilcox

Paragon Of Space Publication

SCIENCE RESEARCH

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McDonnell Douglas X36

Nation: United States
Interesting Fact: Controlled via a pilot on the ground
This unmanned aircraft would have been controlled using a remote control by a pilot on the ground who was in a virtual cockpit setup. With a record 31 perfect flights the project was a pure success. However, the MD/Boeing merger in 1997 suddenly took it out of the equation. This is definitely the way of the future, ensuring safety among pilots and troops.

Role: Research aircraft
Manufacturer : McDonnell Douglas/Boeing
First flight : 17 May 1997
Status : Retired
Number built : 2

General characteristics
Crew: None (ground-based remote control)
Length: 18 ft 2.5 in (5.55 m)
Wingspan: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Height: 3 ft 1.5 in (0.95 m)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Williams International F112 turbofan , 700 lbf (3.1 kN)

Performance
Maximum speed: 234 mph (377 km/h)
Service ceiling: 20,500 ft (6,250 m)
Thrust/weight: 0.56

The unmanned aircraft is controlled by canards, thrust vectoring and ailerons. Because of it´s bad static stability, a advanced fly-by-wire system was used.
The X-36 was built as an unmanned 1/4 scale model prototype and it is controlled from a virtual cockpit by a pilot on the ground, who receives videos from the aircraft.

The first flight of the X-36 was on 17th May 1997, all in all 31 test flights. The handling of the aircraft showed to be very good, it met all the criteria and actually it exceeded them.

Sometimes the aircraft is called Boeing X-36, because McDonnell Douglas and Boeing worked together during the project.

The X-36 was built to 28% scale of a possible fighter aircraft, and was controlled by a pilot in a ground-based virtual cockpit with a view provided by a video camera mounted in the canopy of the aircraft.
For control, a canard forward of the wing was used as well as split ailerons and an advanced thrust vectoring nozzle for directional control. The X-36 was unstable in both pitch and yaw axes, so an advanced digital fly-by-wire control system was used to provide stability.

First flown on 17 May 1997, it made 31 successful research flights. It handled very well, and the program is reported to have met or exceeded all project goals. McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in August 1997 while the test program was in progress; the aircraft is sometimes referred to as the Boeing X-36.
The X-36 possessed high maneuverability that would be ideal for use as a fighter. Despite its potential suitability, and highly successful test program, there have been no reports regarding further development of the X-36 or any derived design as of 2017.

Survivors
The first X-36 is at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. It arrived on July 16, 2003, the same day as the Boeing Bird of Prey and is displayed in the Museum's Research & Development Gallery.
The second X-36 is displayed outside the Air Force Test Flight Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The McDonnell Douglas X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft was an American subscale prototype jet designed to fly without the traditional tail assembly found on most aircraft.

Maximum speed: 376.59 km/h (234 mph) Maiden flight: 17 May 1997 Length: 18.21 ft Wingspan: 10.33 ft Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas Engine types: Williams F112 · Turbofan