NASA and Boeing Unveil X-66A, a Revolutionary X-Plane for Sustainable Aviation

NASA and Boeing have announced the name of their new experimental aircraft that aims to achieve net-zero aviation emissions by 2050. The aircraft, which was previously known as the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing demonstrator airplane, has been designated by the U.S. Air Force as the X-66A.

The X-66A is the latest in a series of X-planes, which are research aircraft that test innovative designs and technologies that can transform aviation. The X-66A is also the first X-plane that focuses on helping the United States achieve its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, which was outlined in the White House’s U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan.

The X-66A is a result of a partnership between NASA and Boeing under the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project, which will see the two organizations build, test and fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft with extra-long, thin wings stabilized by diagonal struts. This design, known as a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept, is expected to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30% compared to today’s most efficient single-aisle airplanes.

The X-66A will also feature advanced engines, materials and systems that will enhance its performance and sustainability.

The X-66A will be based on a modified MD-90 aircraft, which will have its fuselage shortened and its wings and engines replaced. The demonstrator aircraft will have a wingspan of 170 feet (52 meters) and a cruise speed of Mach 0.8 (about 600 mph or 965 km/h).

The first X-66A is expected to be delivered in late 2024 and will undergo flight testing at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. The project will also involve other industry partners, such as GE Aviation, Safran Landing Systems and Spirit AeroSystems.

The X-66A will provide valuable data and insights for the development of future sustainable single-aisle aircraft, which are the workhorse of passenger airlines around the world and account for about half of aviation greenhouse gas emissions globally.

The X-66A will also contribute to NASA’s broader efforts in advancing aeronautics research and innovation for the benefit of society and the environment.

NASA is the leading agency for civil aeronautics research in the United States and has a long history of developing and testing X-planes that have revolutionized aviation. Some of the most notable X-planes include the Bell X-1, which broke the sound barrier in 1947; the North American X-15, which reached hypersonic speeds in 1967; and the Boeing X-48, which demonstrated a blended wing body design in 2012.

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and a leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems. Boeing has also been involved in several X-plane projects, such as the Boeing X-32, which competed for the Joint Strike Fighter program in 2000; and the Boeing X-51, which achieved sustained hypersonic flight in 2013.

Sources: www.nasa.gov and www.boeing.com.