I have a personal connection with the Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology (HiMAT) drone, which was on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum from 1979 to 1983. This unique piece of aviation history has been out of public view since 2011, hidden away from those who appreciate its significance.

The HiMAT drone is not just an aircraft; it represents a significant leap in technology and innovation during its time. It was designed for high maneuverability and stability during flight, making it a pioneer in aviation technology. Its removal from public view denies visitors an opportunity to learn about this important chapter in our technological history.

According to data provided by the Smithsonian Institution itself, over 8 million people visit their Air and Space Museum annually. That's millions of individuals who are being denied access to this historical artifact each year (Smithsonian Institution Annual Report).

We believe that restoring public access to the HiMAT drone will enrich visitor experience by providing them with a more comprehensive understanding of our aviation history. We urge you to bring back this significant piece of aerospace heritage into public view.

Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving and sharing our rich technological past for future generations.

The Rockwell RPRV-870 HiMAT(Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology) is an experimental remotely piloted aircraft that was produced for a NASA program to develop technologies for future fighter aircraft. Among the technologies explored were close-coupled canards, fully digital flight control (including propulsion), composite materials(graphite and fiberglass), remote piloting, synthetic vision systems, winglets, and others.

Two aircraft were produced by Rockwell International. Their first flights took place in 1979, and testing was completed in 1983.

The HiMATs were remotely piloted, as the design team decided that it would be cheaper and safer to not risk a pilot's life during the experiments. This also meant that no ejection seat would have to be fitted. The aircraft was flown by a pilot in a remote cockpit, and control signals up-linked from the flight controls in the remote cockpit on the ground to the aircraft, and aircraft telemetry downlinked to the remote cockpit displays. The remote cockpit could be configured with either nose camera video or with a 3D synthetic vision display called a "visual display".The aircraft were launched from a B-52 Stratofortress at altitude. There was also a TF-104G Starfighter chase plane with a set of backup controls which could take control of the HiMAT in the event that the remote pilot on the ground lost control.

Advances in digital flight control gained during the project contributed to the Grumman X-29 experimental aircraft, and composite construction are used widely on both commercial and military aircraft.