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Boeing X-48B Blended-Wing-Body Research Aircraft Family

The Boeing X-48B was a remotely piloted blended-wing-body research aircraft used by Boeing, NASA, and the Air Force Research Laboratory to explore a lifting-body transport configuration. Its integrated wing and fuselage, low-speed flight tests, and flight-control research informed later studies of efficient large transport aircraft.

Boeing X-48B Blended-Wing-Body Research Aircraft Family — NASA Photo / Carla Thomas (ED09-0080-03) · NASA content generally is not subject to U.S. copyright and may be used factually for educational or informational purposes with NASA acknowledged; no NASA endorsement is implied. Third-party marked material is excluded. Usage guidelines: https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/ · Source

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Identity

Aliases: X-48BBoeing X-48BBlended Wing Body demonstrator
Family Name: Boeing X-48B Blended-Wing-Body
Full Name: Boeing X-48B Blended-Wing-Body Research Aircraft Family
Roles: researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
Status: retired
Type: aircraft

Details

Aircraft Specs

Configuration: fixed_wing
Operating Modes: land
Takeoff Landing Capabilities: conventional

Description

The Boeing X-48B was a remotely piloted blended-wing-body research aircraft used by Boeing, NASA, and the Air Force Research Laboratory to explore a lifting-body transport configuration. Its integrated wing and fuselage, low-speed flight tests, and flight-control research informed later studies of efficient large transport aircraft.

First Flight Year

2,007

Manufacturer

Assets & Meta

Creation Time: August 7, 2026 at 02:52:54 UTC
Updated Time: August 22, 2026 at 10:54:50 UTC
Image: Download