An artist’s concept of Boeing’s experimental X-66 transonic truss-braced wing concept. [Courtesy: Boeing]
Key Takeaways:
Boeing has paused its experimental X-66 flight demonstrator project, a $1.15 billion collaboration with NASA focused on developing a greener aircraft with a transonic truss-braced wing.
Instead of the X-66, Boeing will prioritize a simpler ground-based testbed to investigate thin-wing technology, believing this approach will deliver value sooner and apply to a broader range of future aircraft designs.
The X-66 project, part of NASA's Sustainable Flight Demonstrator initiative, aimed to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, and its halt represents a setback for NASA's original goal of an initial demonstrator flight by 2027.
Boeing is pumping the brakes on its experimental X-66 flight demonstrator.
The aircraft—being developed with a transonic truss-braced wing—is on “pause for later consideration” after Boeing proposed to focus on a ground-based testbed, which will instead demonstrate simpler, thin-wing technology, NASA said Thursday.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
