NASA has developed this less polluting electric plane with a futuristic design

According to Mashable, the space agency is developing an experimental X-66 aircraft as part of the projectt Sustainable Flight Demonstrator. The collaboration with Boeing aims to drastically reduce the fuel consumption of airliners as the fight against global warming is in full swing.

The X-66 burns less fuel

Airliners are in the sights of ecological concerns in the face of the pollution that commercial flights cause. NASA conducted tests at the Langley Research Center wind tunnel on a 1.8 meter model of the X-66. The main innovation? Her “transonic stayed wing”. The design of this aircraft features diagonal struts that connect the fuselage to the extended wing to increase the airfoil and generate more lift.

The project aims to transform single-aisle aircraft. NASA considers these devices to be the “work horses” of global airlines, like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
Engineers analyze lift measurements, drag and aerodynamics of the demonstration X-66. The teams are seeking to evaluate the necessary adjustments in its design.

Next, the project will move to the testing phase in a faster wind tunnel at the Langley center. Other models will be evaluated before Boeing integrates the innovations into its aircraft.
Boeing plans to transform the MD-90, a single-aisle aircraft which is no longer in operation, into this X-66 prototype at the Palmdale facilities in California. According to NASA, the configuration will reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 30% compared to today’s best aircraft. The machine will be associated with other advances in propulsion, materials and systems architecture.

In the future, electric aircraft will be of great importance in commercial activity, particularly for regional journeys which do not exceed approximately 480 kilometers. For what ? Because longer flights require batteries that are too heavy. While current aircraft will be similar, they will incorporate the design innovations of the X-66.