X-70 Fractal: the new NASA aircraft aiming to revolutionize flight testing

The NASA announced the development of the X-70 Fractal, a crewed experimental aircraft that aims to open a new phase in aerospace research. The project aims to test advanced flight control and maneuverability technologies in real conditions.

The U.S. space agency released an image generated with artificial intelligence that anticipates the possible design of the aircraft. Although its final shape is still unknown, the X-70 will have a modular architecture that will allow for modifications to its internal and external components during testing.

What the NASA experimental aircraft X-70 Fractal will be like

The X-70 Fractal was conceived as a high-performance platform with great maneuverability. According to NASA, it will feature flight control technology that can be quickly reconfigured, allowing for the exchange of different components to explore new possibilities in crewed aircraft.

The NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, explained that the aircraft will be used to test advanced control systems, maneuverability, and other cutting-edge technologies during real flights.

“The X-70 Fractal provides NASA with a high-performance crewed platform to test advanced flight control technologies, maneuverability, and other state-of-the-art technologies in real flights,” Isaacman stated in the official announcement.

The official also described the project as part of “a new beginning for aerospace” and anticipated that the agency expects the X-70 to make its first flight within the next two years.

The technical specifications of the X-70 Fractal

NASA revealed some of the expected parameters for the experimental aircraft:

• Cruise speed: Mach 0.75, comparable to that of a Boeing 737 Classic.

The ability to carry experimental payloads will allow for various research and flight testing. Due to its weight and silhouette, the X-70 bears similarities to the Model 437 Vanguard, an experimental aircraft developed by Scaled Composites and Northrop Grumman.

The X-70 and other experimental aircraft from NASA

The new project joins the X-59, NASA's most recent experimental aircraft, which has been in flight for over a year. Its elongated nose design without a front windshield aims to reduce the shock waves generated by supersonic flights.

The X-59 uses an augmented reality display that combines images from sensors and a front camera so that the pilot can visualize the environment. The technology aims to enable flights above Mach 1 without the usual thunderous sonic booms.

Meanwhile, private companies and U.S. agencies are also developing experimental aircraft. Among them are the X-1 from Boom Supersonic, the F-47 from Boeing, and DARPA's CRANE project.