Look Ma - No Vertical Fin AND No Pilot! X-47B

 

 Moving really fast out of the 1930's of the last post and into what looks like it should be the 2030's, here's the Northrop Grumman X-47B.  The Naval UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) was just rolled out on 12-16-08 in Palmdale, California.  The X-47B is designed not only to operate in combat conditions and fly off of aircraft carriers, but to do so without any vertical surfaces and no pilot onboard!  The times, my firend, they are a changin'. 

 First flight isn't expected for quite a while yet, and the flight test program is scheduled to last 3 years.  Sea trials are set to take place in November 2011.

 The aircraft pictured at top is the first of two planned demonstrators of the overall concept. The photo illustration below gives a good view of the overall planform.  More info on the expected X-47B performance and flight capabilities when it becomes available.