Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC                     May 3, 2000
(Phone:  202/358-1979)

Fred Johnsen
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
(Phone:  661/276-2998)

RELEASE:  00-70

NASA SELECTS NEW AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES FOR RESEARCH

     NASA's Office of Aero-Space Technology has selected nine 
aeronautical concepts for awards as part of its Revolutionary 
Concepts program, which accelerates the exploration of high-risk, 
revolutionary-breakthrough technologies in atmospheric flight.  
The selected projects will receive approximately $300,000 each for 
Phase I research.

     NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA, is the 
lead center for the Revolutionary Concepts (REVCON) program, with 
significant involvement from NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett 
Field, CA; Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH; and Langley 
Research Center, Hampton, VA.

     The nine winning projects are described below.

     Advanced Supersonic Propulsion and Integration Research aims 
to validate a two-dimensional, mixed-compression engine inlet for 
commercial applications.  Glenn will lead this project with 
partners Dryden; Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Palmdale, CA; United 
Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT.; General Electric 
Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, OH; Techland Research, North 
Olmsted, OH; Gulfstream Aerospace, Cleveland, OH; and the Air 
Force Research Laboratory, Dayton, OH.

     APEX is a highly instrumented, remotely piloted glider air-
launched at an altitude of 100,000 feet by a balloon.  It will 
obtain data to validate design and analysis methods for high 
altitude and high-subsonic speeds.  Dryden leads a team that 
includes Ames, Langley and Glenn.

     Joined-Wing Integrated Structures Flight Demonstration is a 
revolutionary airborne surveillance concept consisting of a 
joined-wing aircraft with radar apertures integrated into the four 
joined wings.  Langley is the lead with partners from Dryden; The 
Boeing Company, Phantom Works Division, Seattle, WA; Naval Air 
System Command, Patuxent River, MD; and the Air Force Research 
Laboratory, Dayton, OH.
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     The Reliable Autonomous Control Technology project will 
develop an autonomous management system for uninhabited aircraft 
to achieve reliability equivalent to current piloted aircraft.  
Dryden is the team lead, with partners Lockheed Martin Tactical 
Aircraft Systems, Fort Worth, TX; Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, 
Palmdale, CA; and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

     Revolutionary Propulsion for Aeronautical Vehicles is the 
combined effort of the lead General Electric Aircraft Engines, 
Cincinnati, OH, and partners General Electric Corporate Research 
and Development, Schenectady, NY; Lockheed Martin Tactical 
Aircraft Systems; Advanced Projects Research, Inc., La Verne, CA; 
Air Force Research Laboratory, Dayton, OH; Glenn and Dryden.  This 
team will design and develop a pulse-detonation technology to 
integrate with an existing engine and provide increased thrust and 
fuel efficiency.

     The Shape Memory Alloy Variable Area Fan Nozzle project will 
address the development of smart-material actuation for a 
variable-area fan nozzle.  United Technologies Research Center 
will lead the project with support from partners, Pratt and 
Whitney, East Hartford, CT; Northrop-Grumman, Los Angeles, CA; 
Dryden, Glenn and Langley.

     Smart Vehicle -- Advanced Technology Demonstrator consists of 
an uninhabited technology demonstrator that will showcase 
innovative, hingeless aerodynamic effectors that will increase the 
maneuverability and performance of the vehicle with reduced 
signature.  This project will be led by Langley with partners 
Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, Fort Worth, TX; 
Physical Sciences, Inc., Andover, ME; Tel Aviv University, Israel; 
Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD; and Dryden.

     Swashplateless Flight will be demonstrated by the team of 
Advanced Technologies, Inc., Newport News, VA; Diversified 
Technologies, Inc., Bedford, MA; Ames; Dryden and Langley.  They 
will integrate an on-the-blade, electromechanical servo-actuator 
into a civil helicopter and demonstrate primary flight control 
without using a mechanical swashplate.

     The goal of the Variable Diameter Tilt Rotor flight 
experiment is to advance the technology readiness of a concept 
that optimizes the rotor configuration for both hover and cruise 
flight.  This project joins Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 
Stratford, CT, as the lead with Dryden, Ames and Langley.

     More information about REVCON can be found on the Internet 
at:

        http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Projects/revcon/index.html