Boeing Bird of Prey

Bird of Prey
General information
TypeExperimental stealth testbed
ManufacturerMcDonnell Douglas / Boeing
StatusOn display
Number built1
History
First flightSeptember 11, 1996
RetiredApril 1999
Preserved atNational Museum of the United States Air Force

The Boeing Bird of Prey is an American black project aircraft, intended to demonstrate stealth technology. It was developed by McDonnell Douglas and Boeing in the 1990s. The company provided $67 million of funding for the project; it was a low-cost program compared to many other programs of similar scale. It developed technology and materials which would later be used on Boeing's X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle. As an internal project, this aircraft was not given an X-plane designation. There are no public plans to make this a production aircraft. It is characterized as a technology demonstrator.