NASA Announces X-70 Fractal Experimental Aircraft

The crewed X-70 Fractal uses rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology so NASA can explore maneuverability never before demonstrated in crewed flight. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said its modular design and ability to rapidly swap internal and external payloads will keep teams flying from one experiment to the next. He said NASA expects the first flight under the NASA banner within the next two years.

Laurie Grindle, director of the Aeronautics Division within NASA's Research and Technology Mission Directorate, said another X-plane will accelerate and drive aeronautics research.

Key details

• Takeoff weight: 10,000 pounds.
• Cruise: Mach 0.75. Altitude: up to 45,000 feet.
• Range: about 1,500 nautical miles (1,726 miles).
• Payload: up to 2,000 pounds in internal and external locations.

The X-70 Fractal gives NASA a crewed, high-performance platform to test advanced flight-control, maneuverability, and other cutting-edge technologies in real flight.

Why it matters

The Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. NASA later flew the X-15 hypersonic research aircraft and today flies the X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator, the line of crewed X-planes used to prove technologies before they enter operational aviation.