For more than a century, Disney has dreamt up the most magical, fantastical aircraft and engaged our imaginations in ways that no one has before. How many of us have wished we could search for adventure beside Mr. Fredricksen and Russell in their balloon-powered flying house, dodge palace guards on Aladdin’ s magic carpet, or pilot the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo and Chewbacca as they journeyed to fight in the Galactic Civil War?
Now, thanks to a healthy dose of imagination and engineering know-how, one of the most innovative and creative aircraft designs has been brought to life.
This year, the Smithsonian’ s National Air and Space Museum has welcomed a CV2 Cargo Air Vehicle( CAV) for public exhibition. It is the first remotely piloted large electrical vertical takeoff and landing aircraft( eVTOL) to be flown in the United States in a non-military capacity.
Boeing – the CAV’ s manufacturer – partnered with Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development to mount X-wing“ body shells” on two CAVs for the opening events of the Star Wars: Galaxy’ s Edge attraction at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
“ For Boeing, the partnership with Disney was more than entertainment,” said Steve Nordlund, former vice president and general manager for Boeing NeXt and current vice president and general manager of Air Dominance in Boeing Defense, Space & Security.“ It provided valuable insights for future commercial relationships. It also helped understanding the opportunities and challenges of applying advances in batteries, electric propulsion, and autonomous flight.”
Now, the X-wing will be on public display at the museum’ s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
60 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS