Aircraft controlled by jets of pressurized air with no moving parts

  • DARPA and Aurora Flight Sciences are building the first full-scale X-65 aircraft
  • X-65 aims to demonstrate a new method of flight control using no external moving parts
  • Controlled fully by jets of pressurized air that alter airflow over the aircraft
  • First X-65 will have both conventional control surfaces and active flow control actuators
  • X-65 will have a 30-foot wingspan and weigh 7,000 pounds
  • Expected to reach speeds of up to Mach 0.7
  • Modular design allows for future testing and swapping out of components
  • X-65 could be completed and unveiled by early 2025, with first flight in summer 2025

DARPA and Aurora Flight Sciences have begun building the first full-scale X-65 aircraft as part of the CRANE program. The X-65 aims to revolutionize flight control by using jets of pressurized air instead of traditional moving surfaces. The first X-65 will have both conventional control surfaces and active flow control actuators to minimize risk. With a 30-foot wingspan and weighing 7,000 pounds, the X-65 is expected to reach speeds of up to Mach 0.7. Its modular design allows for future testing and component swapping. The X-65 could be completed and unveiled by early 2025, with its first flight scheduled for summer 2025.

Public Companies: Aurora Flight Sciences ()
Private Companies: undefined
Key People: Richard Wlezien (Program Manager for CRANE)

Factuality Level: 8
Justification: The article provides information about the development of the X-65 aircraft and the use of active flow control (AFC) for flight control. It mentions that the X-65 will have both conventional moving control surfaces and AFC actuators for risk minimization. The article also includes quotes from Richard Wlezien, the program manager for CRANE, and mentions the potential impact of AFC on military and commercial aircraft. The information provided is specific and does not contain irrelevant or misleading information. However, the article could have provided more details about the CRANE program and the specific goals of using AFC in aircraft control.

Noise Level: 7
Justification: The article provides information about the development of the X-65 aircraft and its innovative flight control method. However, it includes some unrelated information about other projects and does not provide much analysis or evidence to support its claims. The article also lacks actionable insights or solutions.

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No

Presence of Extreme Event: No
Nature of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating of the Extreme Event: No
Justification: The article is about the development of a new method of flight control for an experimental aircraft. It does not pertain to financial topics or describe any extreme events.

Reported publicly: www.space.com