NASA and Boeing launch truss-braced winged X-66A aircraft
NASA and Boeing have announced the name of their latest experimental aircraft, that has innovative truss-braced wings: X-66A. Developing the new aircraft from design to flight is a key project to help reach the net-zero goal for aviation greenhouse gas emissions.
Image by NASA
NASA and Boeing aim to build and fly a full-sized version of the X-66A, featuring a unique design called a ‘Transonic Truss-Braced Wing’. This configuration includes extra-long, thin wings stabilised by diagonal struts. This design has the potential to decrease fuel consumption by 30% and significantly decrease emissions when compared to current ‘best-in-class’ aeroplanes.
The X-status of the X-66A, granted by the U.S. Air Force, indicates the revolutionary nature of the project. X-planes are platforms to test groundbreaking aircraft configurations and technologies that aerospace manufacturers can integrate into future aircraft designs.
The single-aisle X-66A holds great promise for sustainable aviation, the companies stated. Single-aisle aircraft, the backbone of passenger-based air travel, are responsible for approximately half of global aviation greenhouse gas emissions, Transcontinental Times reports. The X-66A is the first X-plane specifically designed to contribute to the net-zero goal set out in the White House’s U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan. NASA will invest $425 million over seven years in the project, while Boeing and its partners will contribute an estimated $725 million.
