Engineers working on NASA’s X-57 Maxwell are closing in on the all-electric experimental airplane’s first flight test, expected as early as September 20.
An artist rendering of the final iteration of the all-electric X-57 Maxwell in flight. [Courtesy: NASA]
Key Takeaways:
NASA's X-57 Maxwell, an all-electric experimental aircraft, is nearing its first flight test to evaluate its integrated electric propulsion system.
The project's primary goal is to gather crucial research data to establish certification standards for the emerging electric aircraft industry, aiming to advance environmentally friendly aviation.
The aircraft will undergo multiple iterations, starting with a modified two-motor design and evolving to a final version featuring a custom high-efficiency wing and 14 electric motors.
Data and lessons learned from the X-57's development and flight tests are being shared with regulators and partners like Joby Aviation to facilitate future electric aircraft development and certification.
The development team working on NASA’s X-57 Maxwell are closing in on the all-electric experimental airplane’s first flight test, which the agency said could take place as soon as September 20, if all goes as planned.
This initial flight will make the aircraft—named for the 19th century Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell—NASA’s first piloted X-plane in two decades.
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
