Science & Tech · Space · 4 hrs ago
NASA announces experimental X-70 Fractal aircraft
NASA has announced the X-70 Fractal, a crewed experimental aircraft it plans to use for flight research.
The agency says its reconfigurable design will let researchers change components and test different flight-control systems.
The plane is intended to explore maneuverability in real flight, including capabilities NASA says have not been demonstrated in crewed aircraft before.
NASA says the X-70 is designed to fly at up to 45,000 feet and carry about 2,000 pounds of experimental equipment.
Experimental aircraft, known as X-planes, give researchers a way to test new technologies in flight; NASA’s X-59, for example, is testing ways to reduce the sound of supersonic flight.
NASA expects the X-70 to fly for the first time within two years.
NASA has announced the X-70 Fractal, a planned crewed experimental aircraft designed to test flight-control and maneuverability technologies.
The agency says the aircraft will use rapidly reconfigurable technology that allows external and internal components to be swapped during flight.
NASA expects the X-70 to make its first flight within two years.
The announced specifications include a cruise speed of Mach 0.75, a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet and a range exceeding 1,726 miles.
NASA released an AI-generated image with the announcement but has not detailed the aircraft’s final configuration.
- Who
- NASA announced the aircraft. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described its role.
- What
- NASA announced the X-70 Fractal, a crewed experimental aircraft intended to test advanced flight-control and maneuverability technologies.
- When
- NASA announced it on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- To provide a platform for research and testing of advanced flight-control, maneuverability and other technologies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
NASA announced the X-70 Fractal and released an AI-generated image of the planned aircraft.
NASA expects the X-70 to make its first flight.
- Cruise speed
- Mach 0.75
- Maximum altitude
- 45,000 feet (13.7 kilometers)
- Range
- More than 1,726 miles (2,777 kilometers)
- Experimental payload capacity
- Around 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms)
- Takeoff weight
- 10,000 pounds (4,535 kilograms)
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What people are saying
The X-70 Fractal gives NASA a crewed, high-performance platform to test advanced flight-control, maneuverability, and other cutting-edge technologies in real flight.
This is why people come to NASA: to build, to learn, and most importantly, to fly.