NASA yesterday chose Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Skunk Works in Palmdale to build the next X-plane to serve as a low-sonic boom demonstrator test vehicle. The Skunk Works facility is where aircraft such as the famous Blackbird, the U-2 and the F-117 first took shape. The contract translates into $247.5 million for Lockheed to build the first new X-plane research aircraft in a generation. The Skunk Works recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.
NASA Chooses Lockheed Martin to Build Low-Boom X-Plane
Key Takeaways:
- NASA has contracted Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works to build a new X-plane, a low-sonic boom demonstrator, for $247.5 million.
- The X-plane's main purpose is to test public reaction to reduced sonic booms during supersonic flights over land, gathering data for the FAA and ICAO to potentially change current flight bans.
- Designed to be affordable by incorporating existing aircraft components, the X-plane will undergo acoustic evaluations until late 2022, with community flight testing beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2026.
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