Up to 2,000 Pounds of Gear: NASA’s X-70 Experimental Plane Will Be Used to Test Next Aviation Technologies
A new research aircraft
NASA announced the X-70 Fractal as the latest aircraft in its X-series. Earlier aircraft in the program include the Bell X-1, which first broke the sound barrier nearly 80 years ago, and the X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator.
NASA describes the X-70 as a research platform for developing and testing aviation technologies. The agency released an AI-generated image of the aircraft, shown amid smoke and shadows.
Flight and payload capabilities
The crewed aircraft is designed to cruise at Mach .75 and reach altitudes of up to 45,000 feet. NASA says its operational range will exceed about 1,726 miles.
First flight expected soon
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the plane will let teams test flight-control, maneuverability and other technologies in real flight. He also pointed to its modular design and ability to switch payloads between experiments.
Isaacman said NASA expects the aircraft’s first flight under the agency’s banner within the next two years. He described the X-70 as one part of a new beginning for aeronautics.
Key points
- NASA announced the crewed X-70 Fractal as a new experimental aircraft in its X-series.
- The plane is designed to cruise at Mach .75 and reach 45,000 feet.
- It can carry up to 2,000 pounds of experimental equipment inside or outside the aircraft.
- NASA expects the X-70’s first flight under its banner within the next two years.