Aurora Flight Sciences has begun manufacturing an active flow control (AFC) aircraft demonstrator following a critical design review.
The full-scale technology demonstrator, X-65, is being built under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Phase-3 Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program.
Revolutionary Design
It will demonstrate flight control through pressurized air flowing over its surface, a departure from using moving parts such as flaps and rudders to maneuver current aircraft.
Removing external moving parts is expected to reduce the aircraft’s weight and improve its aerodynamics and mechanical complexity.
“The AFC system supplies pressurized air to fourteen AFC effectors embedded across all flying surfaces, including multiple wing sweeps,” Aurora explained.
“The aircraft is configured to be modular, featuring replaceable outboard wings and swappable AFC effectors, which allows for future testing of additional AFC designs.”
The Demonstrator
The 7,000+ pound (3,175+ kilogram) aircraft has a wingspan of 30 feet (9 meters) and a diamond-like wing shape. It will be capable of speeds of up to Mach 0.7.
It took three years of work to reach the manufacturing stage, including design conceptualization, preliminary and detailed design, wind tunnel testing, AFC system testing, and more, the Boeing company said.
The program would culminate in flight tests, scheduled in the summer of 2025.
CRANE program director at Aurora Flight Sciences Kevin Uleck said: “As we move into the manufacturing phase, we are getting ever closer to fulfilling the goal of validating AFC technology and helping to open the design trade space for future applications.”
“X-65 has the potential to change the future of aircraft design. Aurora is honored to support DARPA on this groundbreaking program.”