Firebird optionally crewed aircraft

The Firebird is an optionally crewed aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. Other potential missions include search-and-rescue, firefighting, maritime monitoring and agriculture.

The aircraft has a unique configuration with a single pusher engine mounted on the rear of the central fuselage. It is flanked by twin tail booms. The horizontal stabilizer links the two rudders at the top.

The...