The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has enriched its collection with the addition of the Boeing CV2 Cargo Air Vehicle (CAV), marking a significant milestone as the first large, electrically powered, remotely piloted aircraft to undertake a commercial flight in the United States. The aircraft will be showcased at the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
This pioneering CAV, in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, played a crucial role in the launch events for the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. For this unique mission, the aircraft was outfitted with X-wing “body shells,” making the exhibit not only a piece of aviation history but also a nod to cinematic culture.
“The Boeing Cargo Air Vehicle was the first of these allowed to perform a commercial flight in the United States—in this instance, carrying a Star Wars X-wing shell that was used at Walt Disney World,” explained Roger Connor, the museum’s vertical flight curator. His statement underscores the broader implications of this technology in both military and commercial sectors, highlighting the growth of heavier vertical takeoff and landing cargo drones.
Boeing initiated the development of these all-electric, uncrewed CAVs in 2017, with the capacity to transport up to 225 kilograms (500 pounds) of cargo. The CAVs served as testbeds to further explore advancements in battery technology, electric propulsion, and autonomous flight. The partnership culminated in December 2019, when two X-wing-outfitted CAVs made their debut flight at Walt Disney World, bathed in ultraviolet light to emphasize their outlines against the night sky.
“Our work to bring a ‘real’ X-wing to the skies above Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for the opening of a new attraction was not only spectacular but a moment representative of the immersive Star Wars experience coming to life,” stated Scott Trowbridge, senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Featuring a wingspan of 20.2 feet and powered by 128-kilowatt direct-drive electrical motors, the X-wing CAV will be displayed alongside other historic aircraft in the vertical flight collection. The exhibit opens on May 3 at the Udvar-Hazy Center, located near Washington Dulles International Airport. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with free admission but a parking fee of $15.
This display not only celebrates an intersection of technology and entertainment but also heralds a future where such innovations become commonplace in both realms.
