NASA and Boeing said Monday the aircraft produced through the agency’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project has been designated by the U.S. Air Force as the X-66A. The new X-plane seeks to inform a sustainable single-aisle aircraft. Working with NASA Boeing will build and test a full scale demonstrator aircraft with extra-long thin wings stabilized dragon struts known as Tran sonic Truss Braced wing concept.
NASA is not focusing on stars but also fixated on the sky. The X-66A will shape the future of aviation where there will new ear of airplanes which will be greener, cleaner and quitter and create new possibilities of flying pubic and American industry alike. The X-66A is the first X plane specially focused in helping United States achieve goal of zero aviation greenhouse gas emissions. “To reach the goals it is needed to transform aircraft concepts like the ones we are flying on the X-66A” said Bob Pearce, associate administrator for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
NASA and Boeing sought the X-plane designation after the agency announced the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project award earlier this year. The X-panes are intended to test designs and technologies that can be adopted into other aircraft into other aircraft designs not serve as prototype for full production. The X-66A when combined with other advancements in propulsion systems, materials and system architecture which could result in up to 30% less fuel consumption and reduced emissions when compared with today’s best in class aircraft.
For the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, NASA has a Funded Space Act Agreement with Boeing through which the agency will invest $425 million over seven years, while the company and its partners will contribute the remainder of the funding, estimated at about $725 million. NASA also will contribute technical expertise and facilities.
