Wind tunnel testing of the X-66 transonic truss-braced wing concept aircraft has passed the latest round of wind tunnel testing to verify its aerodynamics.
X-66 is an experimental aircraft that aims to achieve more sustainable flight through its transonic truss-braced wing design, which combines extra-long wings stabilized with diagonal struts. The design could result in single-aisle airliners that are more than 30% fuel-efficient by enabling higher and faster flight.
Ground and flight testing of the wing concept will use a modified MD-90 aircraft and is planned to start in 2028. NASA is working with Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences on the X-66 development and testing program, which is part of the US Government’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) project.
However, before the full-size demonstrator version of the X-66 can fly, engineers perform tests involving several smaller models of the aircraft.
The latest testing used a model of the aircraft with a wingspan of almost 6ft placed in the 12ft Low-Speed Wind Tunnel at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. During the tests, the team captured measurements of forces such as lift and drag over many aerodynamic configurations and flight conditions.
Project team members are analyzing the data and using it to determine if design changes or adjustments are necessary for future wind tunnel tests. Ultimately, data from these tests will ensure the configuration is ready for high-speed wind tunnel tests in the next phase.
The SFD project is NASA’s effort to develop more efficient airframes to provide more environmentally sustainable aviation. The project seeks to inform the next generation of single-aisle airliners, the most common aircraft in commercial aviation fleets around the world.
