Flexible Winged Aircraft Receives X-53 Designation

The Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) aircraft is a joint project between NASA Dryden, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Boeing Phantom Works. The test plane, a modified F/A-18, has a digital flight control system which allows the wings to naturally twist and morph for better manoeuvrability during high speed flight.

Instead of having standard stiff control surfaces the aircraft has flexible leading and trailing edges. These take advantage of the aeroelastic effects that are often detrimental to standard flight. In my opinion the technology could also reduce radar reflections, in turn increasing stealth, from the joins on normal control surfaces.

Obtaining the X-53 name is a step forward as it demonstrates the importance of the project and also makes it more visible to the public and industry insiders. In the future this technology could be used on morphing unmanned aerial vehicles and strike bombers.