NASA unveiled its crewed X-70 Fractal experimental aircraft at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday as a platform for testing advanced flight controls and maneuverability. The agency says the plane’s controls can be rapidly reconfigured and it can carry experimental equipment inside or outside the aircraft. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expects its first flight for the agency within two years [nasa.gov][cnbctv18.com]. The aircraft has a takeoff weight of 10,000 pounds, is designed to cruise at Mach 0.75 and reach 45,000 feet, and has an estimated range of 1,500 nautical miles [nasa.gov][cnbctv18.com]. NASA has not named the aircraft’s builder or its first planned experiments [aroundprague.cz]. The concept image released with the announcement is labeled as generated content, not a confirmed depiction of the final aircraft [twz.com][ltn.com.tw]. Highlights: • Payload capacity: The X-70 can carry up to 2,000 pounds of experimental equipment. Its modular layout is intended to let teams switch payloads between tests [nasa.gov][cnbctv18.com]. • Unconfirmed concepts: Thrust vectoring, lift fans, morphing wings and jet-based control without conventional moving surfaces have been discussed as possible test areas, but NASA has not confirmed that the X-70 will test any of them [twz.com][ltn.com.tw]. • Open questions: NASA has not disclosed the aircraft’s cost or flight base [aroundprague.cz]. Sources: • NASA Announces X-70 Experimental Aircraft to Advance Flight Research - nasa.gov • NASA Announces X-70 "Fractal" Experimental Aircraft - twz.com • NASA unveils X-70 Fractal experimental aircraft to test what the future of flying looks like - cnbctv18.com • NASA Unveils X-70 Fractal, a Crewed X-Plane Built to Carry 2,000 Pounds of Tests - aroundprague.cz • NASA Announces X-70 “Fractal” Experimental Aircraft - twz.com • NASA神秘X-70實驗機首曝光 可快速更換飛控系統 挑戰機動極限 - ltn.com.tw • NASA unveils X-70 Fractal at UP.Summit to test advanced controls - newsbytesapp.com --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News