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Mystery Plane IV -- Northrop Grumman Firebird
- Thread starter Kernel Crittenden
- Start date
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WhitleyStu
Member
Northrop Grumman Firebird intelligence gathering aircraft which can be flown manned or unmanned.
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Bob R
US Veteran
Looks like a mutant offspring of a Predator drone and an OV-1 Mohawk!!! 
bob
bob
Did an OV-10 and an O-2 have a baby?
OP
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran
Ding, ding, ding........ Stu is correct. Took all of one minute. This is a tough crowd.
The Northrop Grumman Firebird is the first aircraft-drone hybrid designed from scratch to be flown either manned or unmanned. In the future it's likely all military aircraft will have the built-in option to be flown manned or as a drone.
The Firebird first flew in February of 2011, and is powered by the popular Lycoming TEO-540 flat-six engine (like a Porsche 911). Designed to stay aloft for up to 40 hours unrefueled. It was one of the last planes designed with input from Scaled Composites founder, and aviation legend, Burt Rutan.
A few more Firebird pictures:
Future versions are expected to have functional hard points for armament.
Note the Firebird has retractable landing gear but no landing gear doors. Just like the Predator.
The Northrop Grumman Firebird is the first aircraft-drone hybrid designed from scratch to be flown either manned or unmanned. In the future it's likely all military aircraft will have the built-in option to be flown manned or as a drone.
The Firebird first flew in February of 2011, and is powered by the popular Lycoming TEO-540 flat-six engine (like a Porsche 911). Designed to stay aloft for up to 40 hours unrefueled. It was one of the last planes designed with input from Scaled Composites founder, and aviation legend, Burt Rutan.
A few more Firebird pictures:
Future versions are expected to have functional hard points for armament.
Note the Firebird has retractable landing gear but no landing gear doors. Just like the Predator.
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OP
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran
Could be. I was thinkinging more like a P-38 Lighting and a U-2.
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boatme99
Member
I don't know what it is, but I see its a turbo pusher.
williamlayton
Member
I thought it was a crop duster.
What tha hell do I know ?
Blessings
What tha hell do I know ?
Blessings
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Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Kaaskop49
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