Lockheed Martin X-56A Multi-Utility Technology Testbed Family

The Lockheed Martin X-56A Multi-Utility Technology Testbed was a modular remotely piloted experimental aircraft developed for active aeroelastic control research. Its interchangeable center bodies and stiff or flexible wing sets supported flight testing of flutter suppression, gust-load alleviation, flexible structures, and advanced sensing for future efficient transport aircraft. Flutter is a potentially destructive interaction between aerodynamic loads and a flexible structure. NASA's flight-series report published in December 2019 described successful suppression of that vibration on the X-56A. The civil-aviation value was to investigate whether lighter, more flexible wings could help future airliners conserve fuel.