X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing Flight Research Demonstrator Family
The X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing was a modified F/A-18 flight-research demonstrator jointly developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA Dryden, and Boeing. Its active control surfaces used beneficial wing aeroelastic twist to improve roll control, drag management, and structural efficiency; the vehicle flew more than 50 research flights after its 2002 test campaign and received the X-53 designation in 2006.
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Identity
- Aliases
- X-53Active Aeroelastic WingAAWF/A-18 AAW
- Family Name
- X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing
- Full Name
- X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing Flight Research Demonstrator Family
- Roles
- researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Operating Modes
- land
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- conventional
- Description
- The X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing was a modified F/A-18 flight-research demonstrator jointly developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA Dryden, and Boeing. Its active control surfaces used beneficial wing aeroelastic twist to improve roll control, drag management, and structural efficiency; the vehicle flew more than 50 research flights after its 2002 test campaign and received the X-53 designation in 2006.
- First Flight Year
- 2,002
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 21:43:55 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 21:43:55 UTC