X-50A Dragonfly - The Boeing Canard Rotor/Wing (CRW) advanced technology demonstrator completed its first hover flight Dec. 3, 2003, at the U.S. Army Proving Ground in Yuma, Ariz. Under joint development by Boeing and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the CRW is a revolutionary aircraft that combines the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of rotary-wing flight. This is because the CRW’s rotor is designed not only to spin during vertical takeoffs and landings but also to stop turning during flight and convert to a fixed wing for high-speed cruise. Because this advanced rotor system eliminates the need for the traditional mechanical transmission, drive train and anti-torque device, it will make the CRW much lighter and simpler, and therefore much cheaper to operate and support. Although the CRW demonstrator vehicles are UAVs, the potential exists for development of both manned and unmanned versions of the vehicle.