Classic Aero-TV: NASA’s X-57 — Lean, Green, Money Making Machines For Aviation!

While at EAA AirVenture 2016, our ANN video crew checked in with NASA to find out what’s going on with their experiments into electric powered flight. They had the opportunity to interview Mark Moore and Sean Clarke, who are both NASA Principal Investigators for the Sceptor X-57 project.

Just the name of this project sounds pretty exciting, and it is. The project centers on using electric propulsion for airplane flight, and the system being developed by NASA is referred to as ‘Distributive Electrical Propulsion.’ As you will see in the video, this means distributing multiple electric motors along the entire wingspan to provide increased aircraft efficiency.

In the video, Moore discusses the advantages of the system through both lower cost of operation and a propulsion system that produces no carbon emissions. Clarke explains how multiple engines producing thrust over the wing also produces greater aerodynamic efficiency.

Moore feels that the experimentation being performed with the X-57 project will provide industry with technologies that can lead to full scale man-carrying aircraft within 10 years. The video shows some fascinating test being performed at Edwards Air Force Base, and it provides a look into what could be in the future for general aviation and commercial aviation.

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