Summary
- Aurora Flight Sciences is designing a vertical lift X-plane for the DARPA SPRINT program.
- The X-plane demonstrator will incorporate traditional elements and proven technologies to minimize risk.
- Aurora Flight Sciences aims to revolutionize future aircraft designs with new capabilities in air mobility platforms.
One US aircraft manufacturer Boeing’s divisions has unveiled a new X-plane design. The Aurora Flight Sciences division has announced in a May 20 statement, “a game-changing, high-speed, vertical lift X-plane” for US Defense Department needs in Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT).
Working on a new vertical lift transport
Aurora Flight Sciences announced in a May 20 statement that the firm is working on design reviews for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program called Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT); according to a March 9, 2023, DARPA announcement,
“The SPRINT Demonstrator Project aims to design, build, certify, and fly an X-Plane to demonstrate the key technologies and integrated concepts that enable a transformational combination of aircraft speed and runway independence for future air mobility platforms. The SPRINT X-Plane is not intended as a pre-production aircraft for a specific operational capability but as a proof-of-concept technology demonstrator. The SPRINT X-Plane project will seek to validate technologies and integrated concepts that can be scaled to different size military aircraft, provide these aircraft with the ability to cruise at speeds from 400 to 450 Knots at relevant altitudes and hover in austere environments (near unprepared surfaces).”
In other words, this X-plane will be a technology demonstrator intended for future aircraft designs for multiple air mobility platforms that do not need long runways. Aurora Flight Sciences will incorporate various new technologies, such as numerous lift fans and remote flight, while using traditional propulsion to reduce risk. Below is another potential look at what the X-plane will look like:
Graphic: Aurora Flight Sciences
Even with the exotic fuselage design, the aircraft will be expected to carry 5,000 pounds up to 450 knots. But the design incorporates many traditional elements.
Reducing risk by using proven technology
This Aurora Flight Services design uses proven technology in new ways. For instance, the F-35B stealth jump jet uses a lift fan to enable vertical flight. One can read more below:

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This military jet was the first one to match supersonic speeds with STOVL capabilities.
Aurora Flight Sciences’ design will also use existing engines to avoid adding to the development risk for a technology demonstrator. According to the firm’s statement, the goal is to have the first flight in 36 months.
Working towards new capabilities
As Larry Wirsing, vice president of aircraft development at Aurora Flight Sciences, shared in the Aurora Flight Sciences May 20 statement,
“Aurora and Boeing bring relevant expertise in blended-wing-body platforms, high-speed VTOL configurations, and military aircraft development. The DARPA SPRINT program is an exciting opportunity to continue our history of advancing technology demonstrator programs that enable new capabilities for the US military.”
Other technology demonstrators Aurora Flight Services is working on include a new seaplane called the Liberty Lifter as shown below. The new seaplane will fly in ground effect close to the sea and provide heavy sea lift without some of the risks cargo ships face during conflict like submarines and such.
Graphic: Aurora Flight Services
Also, Aurora Flight Services is working on another X-plane, the X-65. The X-65 uses active flow control with devices on the wings, which can replace flaps and rudders, cutting down on weight and complexity. It also provides benefits in aerodynamics, reduced radar returns, and more.
As such, Aurora Flight Services intends to build a 30-foot, 7,000-pound remotely piloted aircraft capable of going 7/10ths time to the speed of sound or 0.7 Mach by summer 2025, according to a January 3 statement. But Aurora Flight Services is working on another X-wing esque aircraft and no, not George Lucas’ X-Wing but the X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator using a transonic truss-braced wing (TTBW).
A Douglas MD-90 will be modified to test the design, which may provide 30% in efficiencies. This technology demonstrator aircraft will have human pilots.
Bottom line
For those who think Boeing is, well, stuck – Boeing through its Aurora Flight Sciences is looking at the future of aviation now. Expect more innovations from Aurora Flight Sciences that will change how we fly – and quite possibly move Boeing past the 7-7 era.
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