The Cranfield Eclipse aircraft - the main FLAVIIR demonstrator will be based on this concept

Here’s another one good for a pun challenge – can you savor the FLAVIIR?

European aerospace researchers have shown the first prototype of a planned “flapless” unmanned air vehicle. Similar to a remote-controlled U.S. Predator drone, the prototype UAV is an early milestone for the five-year Flapless Air Vehicle Integrated Industrial Research (Flaviir) project, which aims to produce a fully autonomous UAV with no moving control surfaces by 2009. The completely smooth, teardrop-shaped black exterior of the envisioned autonomous craft will also be fully shielded against electromagnetic pulse (EP) attacks, whether from lightning strikes or nearby nuclear bombs, planners said.

The core technology involves blowing air across the wing surfaces to control flight. The EMP protection is an interesting angle, as well.



  1. mike cannalli says:

    Yes, but it can be decommisioned anytime in the first 2 years of operation without cause.

  2. Dan says:

    Shades of the terminator these are the first Bots for Skynet.A.I.is taking over.

  3. Gig Giacona says:

    You’d think that people smart enough to build this would know to call the ailerons.


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