DARPA and Aurora, subsidiary of Boeing, are making a breakthrough X-plane without regular flights controls. The Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program aims to design, build, and flight test a novel X-plane that incorporates Active Flow Control (AFC) as a primary design consideration. Crane seeks to optimize the benefits of active flow control by maturing technologies and design tools, and incorporating them early in the design process. Active flow control could improve aircraft performance by removing jointed surfaces, which currently drive design configurations that increase weight and mechanical complexity. Demonstrating AFC for stability and control in-flight would help open the design trade space for future military and commercial applications. In 2023, the aircraft received its official designation as X-65.
If it succeeds this make planes and drones, cheaper, stealthier and more maneuverable.
The X-65 has no external moving parts. No flaps. No rotors. No elevators, rudders, stabilators or any other method of maneuvering used before. the flight can be improved while also reducing costs, and wear and tear on the aircraft. The smoother surface should help improve the X-65s stealth characteristics.
DARPA awarded Aurora Flight Sciences (AFS) a phase 2 contract in January for the CRANE program. DARPA’s phase 2 funding finances the detailed engineering design work needed to create a full-scale X-65. The DARPA contract awarded to AFS includes phase 3 option, as well, that includes flying a full-size X-65.
The full-size X-65 will have a 30-foot wingspan and should weigh just 7,000 pounds.
X-65 will use active flow control using bursts of air rather than moving flight surfaces on the exterior of the wings and tail to control its flight.
Introducing the X-65! The #xplane we’re developing to fly without traditional, exterior-moving flight controls received its official designation. CRANE aims to build an experimental uncrewed aircraft that maneuvers by controlling the air flow around it. https://t.co/mQRZ9Um7wX pic.twitter.com/lPI3vETHUp
— DARPA (@DARPA) May 15, 2023
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