News archive: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center | Airframer

17 December

The F-16 Block 70 combines a modern digital cockpit with a 12,000-hour service life to support long-term operational demands.

Lockheed completes initial F-16s for Bulgaria and Slovakia

The finished aircraft strengthen NATO interoperability while advancing national air defence modernisation plans across both air forces.

30 October

The aircraft’s design aims to reduce the sonic boom to ‘a gentle thump’.

Lockheed Martin X-59 completes first flight with NASA

The experimental aircraft flew safely from Palmdale to Edwards in California as part of a NASA programme to reduce the impact of sonic booms and enable future overland supersonic travel.

24 July

Boeing and NASA have teamed up on the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator X-66A aircraft.

Suppliers line up for NASA's sustainable X-66A

Woodward has begun work with Boeing and plans to produce the actuators by 2026, while Safran is to provide electrical power. Test flights of the Transonic Truss-braced Wing X-66A are scheduled to begin in 2028.

3 July

The new headquarters offers 20 per cent more office space and 140 per cent additional hangar space than the previous location.

Ampaire expands to new HQ at Long Beach

The company can now bring all its programs under one roof, benefiting from the vibrant aerospace community at Long Beach, and from the potential to conduct flight testing on-site.

13 June

High cycle fatigue test cell planned for NOVAdev’s California Hydrogen Test & Training Center, illustrated with a hydrogen storage device mounted for testing on a motion-controlled platform.

NOVAdev plans large-scale hydrogen testing in Antelope Valley

Planned test cells will perform high and low cycle fatigue testing, cryogenic and high-pressure system testing, operational performance testing at ambient and elevated temperatures, and crash testing.

5 October

RTX businesses join the X-66A program team

Boeing's X-66A program is focused on developing the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) concept, which could enable significant improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions for next gen single-aisle aircraft.

17 August

ReleaseAirplane arrives at Boeing site for X-66A modification

25 July

ReleaseU.S. Airlines to support NASA-Boeing Sustainable Flight Demonstrator Project

26 June

ReleaseAurora Swiss Aerospace celebrates 10 years of revolutionizing autonomous and sustainable flight

23 June

ReleaseX-57 project creates paths toward electric aviation

14 June

The X-66A is the X-plane specifically aimed at helping the United States achieve the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Transonic Truss-Braced Wing project becomes latest X-plane

To build the X-66A, Boeing will work with NASA to modify an MD-90 aircraft, shortening the fuselage and replacing its wings and engines.The design is known as a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing.

18 January

ReleaseBoeing selected for NASA Sustainable Flight Demonstrator award

27 October

In the coming months, the X-57 project will begin a series of test flights.

Maxwell powers up from its own installed batteries

Random vibration acceptance testing for all the cruise motor controllers for the X-57 have taken place to make sure that all the systems stay functional while they endure the vibration environment expected during flight.

8 August

ReleaseAurora supports University of California San Diego on vehicle design for urban air mobility

29 June

ReleaseNASA to Industry: Let's develop flight tech to reduce carbon emissions

10 May

ReleaseJoby confirms revolutionary low noise footprint following NASA testing

18 April

ReleaseNASA's X-59 arrives back in California following critical ground tests

6 January

NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft (QueSST) is pictured here at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in California, wrapped up in preparation for its move to Texas.

Quiet supersonic demonstrator starts ground testing in Texas

While in Texas, ground testing of the X-59 will ensure the aircraft can withstand the loads and stresses that typically occur during flight. The team will also calibrate and test the fuel systems.

2 November

ReleaseVibration tests boost NASA's electric aircraft project

15 September

ReleaseNASA and Joby complete flight tests

9 September

The Joby aircraft will be tested in collaboration with NASA.

Joby collaborates with NASA to measure eVTOL noise

NASA will use its mobile acoustics facility and over 50 pressure plate microphones to measure aircraft sound emissions. The results will be used to verify how proposed aircraft operations blend into background noise.

12 August

The all-electric X-57 has successfully completed high-voltage ground testing.

All-electric Maxwell powers past a testing milestone

One NASA goal is to establish the X-57 as a reference platform for integrated approaches of distributed electric propulsion technologies. Next up, the X-57 will undergo verification and validation testing.

15 July

ReleaseReliable Robotics partners with NASA to further advanced air mobility

9 July

ReleaseUnmanned aircraft destroyed during research test flight

8 July

ReleaseNASA's National Campaign adds partners

19 May

ReleaseNASA tests system for aircraft positioning in supersonic flight

10 May

ReleaseX-57 high-voltage testing continues

29 March

ReleaseX-59 assembly presses on

30 September

The Airframer Bulletin

ReleaseAirplane arrives at Boeing site for X-66A modification

ReleaseU.S. Airlines to support NASA-Boeing Sustainable Flight Demonstrator Project

ReleaseAurora Swiss Aerospace celebrates 10 years of revolutionizing autonomous and sustainable flight

ReleaseX-57 project creates paths toward electric aviation

ReleaseBoeing selected for NASA Sustainable Flight Demonstrator award

ReleaseAurora supports University of California San Diego on vehicle design for urban air mobility

ReleaseNASA to Industry: Let's develop flight tech to reduce carbon emissions

ReleaseJoby confirms revolutionary low noise footprint following NASA testing

ReleaseNASA's X-59 arrives back in California following critical ground tests

ReleaseVibration tests boost NASA's electric aircraft project

ReleaseNASA and Joby complete flight tests

ReleaseReliable Robotics partners with NASA to further advanced air mobility

ReleaseUnmanned aircraft destroyed during research test flight

ReleaseNASA's National Campaign adds partners

ReleaseNASA tests system for aircraft positioning in supersonic flight

ReleaseX-57 high-voltage testing continues

ReleaseNASA releases new concept image for Advanced Air Mobility

ReleaseCutting edge ground recorders selected to measure future X-59 quiet supersonic flights

ReleaseNASA takes steps to reduce aviation emissions, invigorate US economy

ReleaseNASA and JAXA to work together on testing X-59 model

ReleaseNASA awards contract for X-59 community overflight operations

ReleaseX-59 assembly presses on

ReleaseBell APT 70 successfully completes NASA's Systems Integration and Operationalisation activity

ReleaseProgress on cruise motors, future wing sets stage for all-electric X-57 ground tests

ReleaseWork on X-59 QueSST wing nears completion

ReleaseGrand Challenge developmental testing partners

ReleaseNASA's Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge advances with agreement signings

ReleaseNASA takes delivery of first all-electric experimental aircraft

ReleaseNASA Armstrong completes X-57 wing tests

ReleaseDream Chaser spacecraft pases another NASA milestone

ReleaseNASA and MTSI to partner towards developing a certifiable autonomous aircraft framework

ReleaseNASA Technologies significantly reduce arcraft noise

ReleaseGA-ASI DAA system aids FAA-approved flight of NASA unmanned aircraft

ReleaseNASA flies large unmanned aircraft in public airspace without chase plane for first time

ReleaseTecnam delivers the second P2006T Twin for Nasa X-57 electric powered propulsion programme

ReleaseRockwell Collins and NASA demonstrate Sonic Boom Display

ReleaseNASA charges toward greener aviation with novel concepts