Raptor
The Raptor Demonstrator high-altitude, long endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program was conducted under a contract from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to Scaled Composites, LLC. In order to satisfy rigorous performance criteria of flight up to 65,000 ft and 48 hour plus endurance, a high fuel fraction and light weight composite structure were necessary.
In order to reach altitudes of 65,000 ft, the Raptor used a two-stage turbocharged, 100 hp, highly modified Rotax engine. This propulsion package was successfully tested in an altitude chamber to over 70,000 ft altitude. Additionally, Scaled was responsible for the design, manufacturing, and development of the high-altitude propeller system, a 2-blade all-graphite controllable pitch unit. Scaled also designed, developed, and tested all Raptor flight controls, including autopilot, autonomous navigation, and emergency recovery systems.
In 1995, the Raptor program was transferred to NASA under the Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology program as a flying test bed for technologies applicable to future high altitude UAVs.
The airplane was flown in a manned configuration to allow testing of changes to the flight control system with minimal risk to the airframe. The safety pilot was provided manual controls which can override control system commands. This somewhat novel approach allowed rapid development of the vehicle handling qualities and evaluation of the flight controls at low cost and program risk.
In order to reach altitudes of 65,000 ft, the Raptor used a two-stage turbocharged, 100 hp, highly modified Rotax engine. This propulsion package was successfully tested in an altitude chamber to over 70,000 ft altitude. Additionally, Scaled was responsible for the design, manufacturing, and development of the high-altitude propeller system, a 2-blade all-graphite controllable pitch unit. Scaled also designed, developed, and tested all Raptor flight controls, including autopilot, autonomous navigation, and emergency recovery systems.
In 1995, the Raptor program was transferred to NASA under the Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology program as a flying test bed for technologies applicable to future high altitude UAVs.
The airplane was flown in a manned configuration to allow testing of changes to the flight control system with minimal risk to the airframe. The safety pilot was provided manual controls which can override control system commands. This somewhat novel approach allowed rapid development of the vehicle handling qualities and evaluation of the flight controls at low cost and program risk.