NASA and Boeing Collaborate on X-66 for Net-Zero Aviation Emissions
The X-66, the very first X-plane, is being developed by NASA and Boeing with a specific focus on achieving net-zero aviation emissions by 2050. The team is already envisioning the aircraft's appearance as it soars through the sky.
In a new depiction by Boeing, the X-66 boasts its trademark elongated and slender wings, supported by diagonal struts known as the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing design. When combined with advancements in propulsion systems, materials, and architecture, this configuration has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30% and minimize emissions, surpassing the current leading aircraft.
Through the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator initiative, Boeing and NASA will collaborate to construct, test, and fly a full-scale X-66 demonstrator aircraft. The goal of this project is to pave the way for a new generation of eco-friendly single-aisle aircraft, which are the backbone of passenger airlines worldwide.
Last year, Boeing transported the MD-90 aircraft, which will serve as the foundation for the X-66, to their facility in Palmdale, California. The engines have been removed to make way for modifications.
The X-66 plays a crucial role in NASA's Sustainable Flight National Partnership, a program aimed at protecting the environment, boosting the U.S. economy, and introducing groundbreaking innovations for travelers.