New environmental aircraft will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30%
Climate change is perhaps the most serious threat facing the world today. According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, by mid-century the average global temperature will increase by 2 °C. To limit global temperature rise and avoid the worst-case scenario, countries need to reach net-zero emissions by then. Otherwise the situation will become much worse.
This means a shift to cleaner methods in energy, transport and aviation. The airline industry is developing technologies to significantly reduce carbon emissions from air travel and meet its commitments to combat climate change. In support of this goal, NASA and Boeing joined forces to create the X-66 experimental aircraft — the first aircraft to help achieve zero emissions in aviation. Last week, NASA published an updated version of the concept.
The configuration is identical to that unveiled by NASA and Boeing at the Experimental Aviation Association's (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh air show last year. The design is based on the Truss-Braced Wing concept. It includes very long, thin wings with stabilizing diagonal struts developed by Boeing. This configuration is based on a series of studies called «Subsonic Ultra-Green Aircraft» (SUGAR), which have been ongoing since 2011 and are aimed at assessing the benefits of hybrid electric technologies.
Combined with an advanced propulsion system, sophisticated system architecture and the use of advanced materials, this configuration can reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions by 30% compared to commercial aircraft. Development of the X-66 began in early 2019 as part of the project «Sustainable Flight Demonstrator» (SFD), which is part of the NASA National Partnership (SFNP). Through this project, NASA Aeronautics is collaborating with industry, academia, and other agencies to achieve zero-emission aviation by 2050.
To create the X-66A, Boeing, together with NASA, modified the McDonnell Douglas MD-90 narrow-body passenger aircraft. Modifications include a shortened fuselage and replacement of the wings with longer, thinner versions. The engines were also moved from the tail to the underwings and replaced with gas-electric models. Boeing delivered the MD-90 to its Palmdale, California, plant in August 2023 and has since removed the engines and completed work on the 3-meter wing that will be used for aerodynamic testing.
The ultimate goal of this project — provide a new generation of environmentally friendly narrow-body aircraft that are the most commonly used aircraft in international air travel.