NASA Introduces the X-70 Fractal Experimental Aircraft
NASA has announced the X-70 Fractal, the latest aircraft in its X-series of experimental planes. The series includes the Bell X-1, which first broke the sound barrier nearly 80 years ago, and the more recent X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator.
NASA describes the X-70 as a high-performance, highly adaptable research platform. It will be a crewed aircraft capable of cruising at Mach 0.75, with NASA planning to use it to develop and test next-generation aviation technologies.
The agency has not yet shown the aircraft in real life. Its announcement included an AI-generated image depicting the X-70 surrounded by smoke and shadows, along with confirmation of several of the aircraft’s capabilities.