UAV Profile: Boeing A160T Hummingbird
The Boeing A160T Hummingbird utilises an endurance helicopter airframe using rigid rotor technology under development for the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The piston powered prototype first flew in January 2002 with a three blade rotor while the first four blade rotor version made its debut sortie in November of that same year.
Development of the turbine powered A160T variant, was developed to overcome acknowledged problems in aircraft power, with the first demonstrator making its debut flight in June 2007, with this also the 37th flight achieved by the type.
Ten A160T aircraft are on order for DARPA and the US Special Operations Command, the later facilitated by a $49 million contract awarded August 2005.
| Wingspan |
36.1 ft |
11 m |
| Length |
34.8 ft |
10.6 m |
| MTOW |
5,000 lb |
2,268 kg |
| Payload Weight |
992 lb |
450 kg |
| Cruise Speed |
140 kts |
260 kmh |
| Endurance |
24 Hours |
|