The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) has been
awarded a $50 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, under the Intelligent
Vehicle Research Initiative, by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC),
Edwards, Calif. In support of this new Intelligent Vehicle initiative,
Boeing Phantom Works will provide modification direction for the flight test
C-17 Globemaster III. The modifications will be accomplished in Southern
Calif.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to work with NASA on this
important program,” said JB Peterson, vice president of Advanced Aircraft &
Missiles for Phantom Works. “We’re looking forward to getting airborne and
demonstrating our new capabilities on a current front-line transport
aircraft, and eventually transitioning that technology directly to various
operational aircraft.”

The first task under the contract will be to establish a Research Flight
Control System (REFLCS) to allow research into potentially life-saving
technologies such as Intelligent Flight Controls which can keep damaged
aircraft controllable.

“Dryden looks forward to developing REFLCS as a valuable tool-set for both
the Air Force and NASA to do more advanced flight control research, such as
Intelligent Flight and Propulsion Control,” said Jerry Henry, NASA
Intelligent Vehicle program manager. According to Henry, also under future
consideration as a research topic is an emergency autopilot system, which
could take complete control if an aircraft was heading toward imminent
danger or obstacles.

“NASA’s vision for the future of transport aircraft is very motivating and
we’re pleased to participate in the Intelligent Vehicle Program,” said
Michael Kinard, Boeing Phantom Works program manager.

Flight testing of engine monitoring systems began in October 2001 at Edwards
AFB, Calif. REFLCS will be installed on the C-17 in 2002, followed by flight
tests during the third quarter. In early 2003 C-17 flight tests will be
initiated at Dryden. Program goals include; providing a flexible research
environment on a large transport aircraft, demonstrating damage adaptive
technologies, and transitioning of NASA technologies to operational aircraft
in the field.

Engine number three on the C-17 test aircraft will have prognostic sensor
groups installed to monitor potential ingested debris and engine distress.
The first generation of these sensors are already installed and are
currently being evaluated. In addition, the C-17 will test systems that
monitor high frequency vibration, stress wave analysis and wireless sensing.

Initial research with this technology began in 1995 at NASA Ames Research
Center, Calif., where the Intelligent Flight Control software developed by
Phantom Works was demonstrated in their simulators. During a series of test
flights at Dryden with an MD-11, only engine thrust was used for aircraft
control during landing operations. This concept evolved into the selection
of the C-17 as the next candidate aircraft.

Boeing is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial and military
aircraft, and NASA’s largest contractor. The company’s capabilities include
helicopters, defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, launch systems,
satellites, advanced information and communication systems, aviation support
products and services, financial services, a global-mobile communications
system, and a space-based air traffic management system.

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Contact:

Erik Simonsen 562-797-5473

Dave Phillips 312-544-2125