The New ‘NASA Aircraft’ Prototype ‘Boeing X-48’ Is Tested; It Is With A New Design, Better Fuel Efficiency And More
NASA as a major space agency brings a lot of research and development in making new aircraft and spacecraft, which are very much demanding in the industry. The collaboration with Boeing and its X-48 unmanned aircraft development into a larger one also getting the signature of NASA as it is made with a new design and shows better fuel efficiency.
The exact prototype, known as X-48 B1 and was started in 2013 by the collaboration between NASA and Boeing, shows an excellent improvement over the years. It has completed 100 test flights recently and is made of Blended Wing Body (BWB) technology, which is expected to make an impact in the transporting sector in the next 10 years using subsonic mode of transportation. Now, considering the fact that the unmanned prototype is successful, the collaboration is working on developing manned X-48 aircraft.
Read about our flight simulator for #X57 on the @nasa homepage today. @charIesbolden flew is expertly! https://t.co/oCjSnkQjNQ pic.twitter.com/ZZ20HA2NI6
— Sean Clarke (@SeanCClarke) December 6, 2016
The scale model of X-48 B is tested and modified by NASA by using an engine with the help of a remote control. A lot of focus was given by NASA for the redesign of its wings and tubes that not only ensures better fuel efficiency but safer as well. The BWB technology program is increasing the fuel efficiency by 30 percent and making it much quieter than the aircraft present in the market. The result of the testing of manned aircraft is expected to revolutionize the future of avionics.
According to NASA, the aircraft would be used in various applications from military, cargo to commercial flights. The development of X-48 B is under the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate of NASA, which is working on providing quality research in the areas of safe and efficient air transport, developing commercial supersonic aircraft, reduced carbon emissions, real-time safety solutions etc.
Similar to the lines of Boeing X-48, NASA is also started developing and electric aircraft named X-57 Maxwell to keep its mission to reduce the carbon emission and clean energy in mind. Also, a new flight simulator program has started to help the pilots and engineers to experience the flights on its X-Planes. The new functionality is planned to train both pilots and engineers, test their skills and check the results etc. in the new line of planes by NASA.
