New X-56A Aircraft to Examine Flutter

Bethany Whitfield

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:48 PM ET

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X-56A U.S. Air Force

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force unveiled the X-56A, an experimental unmanned aircraft developed to research methods for preventing "flutter," a dangerous aerodynamic effect causing wing vibrations and potential failure.
The X-56A features a dynamic wing designed by Lockheed Martin that uses sensors and flaps to adapt to destructive vibrations and disperse loads efficiently without increasing wing weight, thus preserving agility.
The aircraft will undergo testing at Edwards AF Base to evaluate risky technologies, with a ballistic parachute for safety, before further testing at NASA, aiming to benefit reconnaissance and commercial aviation.

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The U.S. Air Force unveiled the X-56A last week, its newest experimental aircraft specifically crafted to explore ways to protect against flutter.

Flutter is an aerodynamic effect – one that has caused a number of fatal accidents over the years – that occurs when the vibrations of an aircraft’s wing trigger a potentially dangerous increase in load. The phenomenon can cause enough stress to lead to wing failure and is most threatening to high altitude aircraft with lightweight, flexible wings.