5 Key & Experimental Aircraft Flown By NASA

NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is best known for its space missions but is also a world pioneer in more conventional aviation. For example, NASA and the Air Force worked together to create the X-15 rocket plane that still holds the world record for the fastest-piloted aircraft ever flown (Mach 6.7). NASA operates a fleet of aircraft that help conduct its aeronautical research, train astronauts, study the planets, and operate the agency’s many air and space programs. NASA everything from private jets to specialized experimental aircraft, pushing the limits of aviation operations.

1 Super Guppies

Perhaps the most eye-catching aircraft currently flown by NASA is the Aero Spacelines Super Guppy (the successor of the Pregnant Guppy). It is an aircraft built specially for hauling outsize cargo (such as the complete S-IVB stage and third stage of the Saturn V rocket).

NASA notes that transporting oversized cargo is a tremendous problem for logistics planners—sometimes, it’s just impossible to get out-sized cargo through tunnels, along narrow roads, etc. The Super Guppy is not designed to carry the heaviest loads but can carry immensely bulky cargo. Its cargo area is 25 feet in diameter and 111 feet long, and its nose opening is 110 degrees.

2 X-59 Question

This is NASA’s quest to solve the sonic boom problem and open up supersonic travel.

The X-59 Quest is one of NASA’s most notable experimental aircraft. NASA states Quest is its “...mission to demonstrate how the X-59 can fly supersonic without generating loud sonic booms and then survey what people hear when it flies overhead.” Loud sonic booms were one of the key factors that limited and then doomed the Concorde.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin (which is building the aircraft) says, “This breakthrough would open the door to an entirely new global market for aircraft manufacturers, enabling passengers to travel anywhere in the world in half the time it takes today.” Queest is expected to fly for the first time in 2024 and will fly at Mach 1.42. If the tests are successful, it may lead to regulators lifting the ban on faster-than-sound flights over land.

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3 X-57 Maxwell

While the X-57 Maxwell will never fly, its development has contributed to learning about electric aircraft.

Cars and trucks can be electric – how about aircraft? One of the main problems with electric aircraft is the weight of the battery. However, NASA is experimenting with an all-electric aircraft, the X-57 Maxwell, to demonstrate technology to reduce fuel use, emissions, and noise. NASA states that it “…provides aviation researchers with hundreds of lessons learned, as well as revolutionary development in areas ranging from battery technology to cruise motor control design.”

Photo: NASA

The X-57 Maxwell was intended to fly in 2023, but this was canceled after problems were found with its propulsion system that would take too long to fix. Even though it seems the aircraft will never fly, much has been learned from designing and building the aircraft – including the cruise motor controllers.

4 Boeing X-66

The X-66 is being developed to demonstrate truss-bracing and hybrid electric technologies.

The Boeing X-66 is an experimental airliner under development by Boeing in collaboration with NASA. NASA says it is “the first X-plane specifically focused on helping the United States achieve net-zero aviation emissions by 2050.” Boeing is working with NASA to build, test, and fly a full-scale X-66 demonstrator aircraft, hoping it could be the precursor to a new generation of more sustainable single-aisle aircraft.

Image: Boeing

While NASA lists the X-66 on its webpage of ‘current’ X-planes, it doesn’t actually exist yet (although there are computer renderings of it). The rendering shows the aircraft’s signature extra-long, thin wings stabilized by diagonal struts (called the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept). It is estimated this configuration (along with other advancements) could result in up to 30% less fuel consumption relative to today’s best-in-class aircraft.

5 F-15D Eagle

Modified F-15Ds are used as chase planes to monitor and video-specific missions and for pilot training.

NASA operates various aircraft – including modified F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets. NASA has operated variants of the F-15 Eagle, including the F-15D (#884 and #897). These are used for research support and pilot proficiency. They are typically used for photo or video support as they can transmit live video feeds so that engineers can visually monitor the mission as it is being flown.

NASA states that using fighter jets to monitor experimental or other missions greatly enhances flight safety. Fighter jets, commonly called chase planes, are used as escort aircraft during research missions. Armstrong research pilots also use F15Ds for routine flight training, which is required by all NASA pilots.

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