Summary
- Boeing selects RTX to collaborate on the X-66A flight demonstrator, part of NASA’s sustainable flight partnership.
- Collins Aerospace will provide Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, nacelles, and accessories for the X-66A.
- The X-66A program aims to achieve net-zero emissions for commercial aviation.
American planemaker Boeing announced on Tuesday that it has selected Raytheon Technologies Company (RTX), the parent company of engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, to collaborate on the X-66A flight demonstrator. The experimental aircraft is part of a sustainable flight partnership led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
It comes after NASA and Boeing unveiled the livery for the X-66A earlier this year. As many as five US airlines will partner with the two companies to provide feedback and insight on the aircraft’s operations and compatibility at airports.
Achieving net-zero
According to RTX, Collins Aerospace, a supplier of aerospace and defense products and subsidiary RTX, will support Boeing with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, along with Collins nacelles and engine accessories. Ground tests for the X-66A are set to begin in 2028 and will also be supported by the two RTX companies. The X-66A program, also known as the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, is part of NASA’s broader Sustainable Flight National Partnership, a collaboration dedicated to developing technologies needed to achieve net-zero emissions for commercial aviation.
Photo: NASA
Geoff Hunt, Pratt & Whitney’s Senior Vice President of Engineering & Technology, discussed its partnership with Boeing.
“NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator is a leading example of how public-private partnerships can help foster the technological breakthroughs needed to deliver on the industry-wide goal of a more sustainable, net-zero emissions future.”
Aircraft design and engine
Boeing is focused on developing the X-66A with its concept of a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW), a design intended to provide significant fuel efficiency improvements and reduced emissions for single-aisle aircraft of the next generation. According to Boeing, the aircraft will be built from a modified MD-90 aircraft at a facility in Palmdale, California.
Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine offers fuel savings and sustainability benefits that are “industry-leading,” according to RTX, delivering up to 20% better fuel efficiency. Since entering service in 2016, the engines have reportedly helped airlines conserve over 1.4 billion gallons of fuel and more than 14 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.
“We’ll work with Boeing to apply GTF engines to the X-66A and help demonstrate the potential of its pioneering truss-braced wing design,” Hunt explained.
The engines are also certified to operate with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and reduce aircraft noise pollution by 75% compared to previous-generation engines. The nacelles, developed by Collins, encase the engine and are made with lightweight, durable composite and metal materials. They perform several functions essential to the engine’s operation, including maintaining airflow, thrust reversal, and safeguarding the engine.
Decarbonizing aviation
Dr. Todd Citron, Boeing’s Chief Technology Officer, thanked RTX for its support of the X-66A.
“The learnings from the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, X-66, and the partnership with NASA are important elements in the industry’s efforts to decarbonize aviation. We’re grateful for the support from RTX on this critical effort.”
Over the summer, Boeing and NASA debuted the livery of the X-66A at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The companies also said that Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines would support the demonstrator aircraft by providing input on its operational efficiencies, maintenance, and airport compatibility.