US Navy launches X-47B drone from aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

I wonder how the folding wings affect it's stealth profile. That's got to be a tricky piece of engineering.

When the wings are swept forward, it probably degrades it's stealth profile pretty seriously, but most likely, they're only swept forward for takeoff and landing.

Edit: I think I misunderstood based on the picture. If the wings don't sweep forward at all, I doubt that the fact that the wings fold are much of a concern when the plane is in flight.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by patteeu

When the wings are swept forward, it probably degrades it's stealth profile pretty seriously, but most likely, they're only swept forward for takeoff and landing.

Edit: I think I misunderstood based on the picture. If the wings don't sweep forward at all, I doubt that the fact that the wings fold are much of a concern when the plane is in flight.

No, the wings of the 47B are not forward-swept.