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NASA Meatball NASA Dryden Inflatable Wing Aircraft banner
The deployable, inflatable wing technology demonstrator experiment aircraft looks good during a flight conducted by the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The deployable, inflatable wing technology demonstrator experiment aircraft looks good during a flight conducted by the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

Photo Number: EC01-0136-9
Photo Date: April 25, 2001

Formats: 524x480 JPEG Image (59 KBytes)
1117x1023 JPEG Image (441 KBytes)
3000x2750 JPEG Image (4,665 KBytes)

Description: The deployable, inflatable wing technology demonstrator experiment aircraft looks good during a flight conducted by the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The inflatable wing project represented a basic flight research effort by Dryden personnel.

Three successful flights of the I2000 inflatable wing aircraft occurred. During the flights, the team air-launched the radio-controlled (R/C) I2000 from an R/C utility airplane at an altitude of 800-1000 feet.

As the I2000 separated from the carrier aircraft, its inflatable wings "popped-out," deploying rapidly via an on-board nitrogen bottle. The aircraft remained stable as it transitioned from wingless to winged flight. The unpowered I2000 glided down to a smooth landing under complete control.


NASA Photo by: Tom Tschida

Keywords: Inflatable Wing aircraft; I2000; I-2000; technology demonstrator; radio-controlled; R/C


Last Modified: February 6, 2002
Responsible NASA Official: Marty Curry
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