NASA has unveiled captivating new liveries for two groundbreaking aircraft projects that have the potential to revolutionize air travel as we know it. These upcoming planes are not only aiming to redefine sustainable flight but also to make a stylish statement while doing so.
Leading the pack is the X-66A, a collaborative effort between NASA and Boeing under the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project. Their ambitious goal is to design, test, and fly an emission-reducing, single-aisle aircraft by the end of this decade. The X-66A, showcased as a full-scale demonstrator, will be at the forefront of this mission.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed the project’s significance, stating, “It’s our goal that NASA’s partnership with Boeing to produce and test a full-scale demonstrator will help lead to future commercial airliners that are more fuel efficient, with benefits to the environment, the commercial aviation industry, and to passengers worldwide.” If all goes well, passengers could experience the technologies in action as early as the 2030s.
The innovative design, known as the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept, employs elongated, slender wings stabilized by diagonal struts connecting them to the aircraft. This novel configuration minimizes drag, resulting in up to a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to today’s most efficient airplanes.
Recently unveiled at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event, the new livery features a white fuselage adorned with a bold blue, orange, and red-striped tail.
Bob Pearce, NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, emphasized the experimental nature of the aircraft, emphasizing that its purpose is to validate high-risk technology rather than immediate commercial use. The first test flight is scheduled for 2028, with hopes that the technology will ultimately serve around 50% of the commercial market through short- to medium-haul single-aisle aircraft.
NASA’s collaboration with GE Aerospace and magniX shines the spotlight on hybrid electric aircraft through the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EFPD) project. The initiative aims to advance electric-powered aircraft, leveraging lighter and more efficient components to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
These groundbreaking technologies will be assessed and demonstrated in modified existing aircraft. A reinvigorated Saab 340B aircraft, sporting a dynamic white and blue livery, will undergo test flights for GE Aerospace’s megawatt-class hybrid electric powertrain. The first flights are projected to occur by the mid-2020s.
Meanwhile, magniX’s hybrid powertrain, integrated into a modified DeHavilland “Dash 7” aircraft boasting red and white livery, will undergo tests in partnership with AeroTEC and Air Tindi.
NASA envisions these advancements benefiting short-haul turboprop aircraft, which typically accommodate 30 to 70 passengers, and regional single-aisle commercial airliners capable of carrying up to 180 passengers.
With at least two flight demonstrations slated in the next five years, these innovations are poised for commercial introduction in the United States between 2030 and 2035. As these projects propel us toward a more sustainable and efficient future in air travel, there’s no doubt that aviation enthusiasts and environmentally-conscious travelers alike have much to look forward to.
