Aurora Flight Sciences to build DARPA’s revolutionary X-65

For over a century, the sky has been the domain of mechanical ballet, where wings and flaps orchestrated the dance of flight. But a revolution is brewing, propelled by a silent symphony of air jets instead of whirring control surfaces. DARPA, the Pentagon’s forward-thinking research agency, has chosen Aurora Flight Sciences to build the X-65, an experimental aircraft poised to rewrite the script of flight control.

This Phase 3 milestone in DARPA’s Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program marks a significant partnership. Aurora, known for its innovative aircraft designs, will bring their expertise to life in the X-65. This futuristic jet will ditch traditional control surfaces, instead wielding jets of pressurized air to manipulate the airflow around its sleek, diamond-shaped wings – a technology known as Active Flow Control (AFC).

“The X-65 is a game-changer,” says Dr. Richard Wlezien, DARPA’s CRANE program manager. “Aurora’s proven track record in unconventional aircraft design made them the ideal partner to bring AFC to life and unleash its potential.”

But this aerial experiment won’t be a leap of blind faith. The X-65 will retain its traditional control surfaces, acting as training wheels as it learns to fly with its new air jet orchestra. Initial flights will compare the performance of both methods, gradually transitioning to full reliance on AFC as confidence builds.

The X-65 isn’t just a futuristic concept; it’s a meticulously crafted testbed for the future. Its size and speed – similar to a military trainer jet – ensure its data is directly relevant to real-world aircraft design. And to extend its legacy beyond the CRANE program, the X-65 boasts a modular design. Wings and AFC effectors can be swapped out, transforming it into a platform for future research and development long after its first flight.

With Aurora’s expertise at the helm, the X-65’s rollout is scheduled for early 2025, with the first flight targeted for summer of the same year. This partnership isn’t just building an aircraft; it’s building a bridge to a future where the sky is no longer the limit, but a canvas for innovation. The X-65 might just be the first brushstroke in a revolution, and Aurora is holding the brush.

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