NASA takes next step in green aviation X-planes

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   At the 39th meeting of the International Civil Aviation Orga-       Boeing of Hazelwood, Mo.                                                               AND REVIEW
nization Oct. 6, 191 countries reached a global climate deal to           “Engaging these contractors now to gather this information will
reduce carbon emissions from aviation.                                                                                                      Latest News • Veteran resources • Military Discounts
                                                                       help us move forward efficiently and expeditiously when we’re
   At the same time, NASA is working to create new experimental        ready to commit to building the X-planes themselves,” said Ed                 search for Aerotech News
aircraft that will demonstrate new “green aviation” technology         Waggoner, NASA’s Integrated Aviation Systems Program direc-
intended to dramatically reduce fuel use, emissions and noise —        tor.
with the goal of cutting emissions from the nation’s commercial
aircraft fleet by more than 50 percent, while also reducing per-          Each company is to detail their specific X-plane system require-
ceived noise levels near airports to one-half the level of the quiet-  ments for a piloted experimental aircraft capable of sustained,
est aircraft flying today.                                             two to three hours of powered high subsonic flight, as well as
                                                                       conducting at least two research flight sorties per week over the
   To that end, NASA recently awarded six-month contracts to           course of a year-long program.
four companies, who will each define the technical approach,
schedule, and cost for one or more large-scale, subsonic X-plane          The requested information is to be built around a plan that
concepts. These concepts are in support of NASA’s ultra-efficient      would see the selected experimental aircraft eventually flying no
subsonic transport research goals.                                     later than 2021.

   The companies are Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation of                NASA’s return to flying large-scale X-plane technology demon-
Manassas, Va.; Dzyne Technologies Incorporated of Fairfax, Va.;        strators — a staple of its aeronautical research heritage — is part
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company of Fort Worth, Texas; and
                                                                                                                    See X-PLANE, Page 3

October 21, 2016 • Volume 30, Issue 16                                 Serving the aerospace industry since 1986                            Use your smartphone to connect to
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