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 airplane and the agency's first piloted X-plane in two decades, is nearing its inaugural flight test, potentially as early as September 202X.
The project aims to gather critical research data on electric propulsion systems to help establish certification standards for the emerging electric aircraft industry.
The aircraft, a modified Tecnam P2006T, will evolve through multiple iterations, starting with two electric motors and culminating in a design with 14 motors and a custom high-efficiency wing.
NASA is actively collaborating with industry partners and sharing findings with regulators to advance environmentally friendly, zero-emission aviation technologies for future commercial aircraft.
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.
