The objective of this project is to investigate several technologies which, when taken together in a complete system, provide the capability to obtain flight test data on very low Reynolds number airfoils at altitudes between 11 and 30 km for comparison with wind tunnel and analytical investigations. The approach is to develop an Autonomous Flight Test Vehicle having a wing span of 5.9 meters. Small vehicles have an advantage in reaching extreme altitudes due to scale effects. Modern digital electronics make such small autonomous vehicles practical for the first time. The digital data acquisition and command system will fly the aircraft to high altitudes, navigate relative to a VOR station, and conduct the test program. It will record the data in a form suitable for direct computer access and data reduction. Power will be supplied by high speed two-cycle engines using nitromethane as a "chemical supercharger." The Phase I program takes this technology through system integration and low altitude flight test.
