NASA Aircraft

Latest NASA Aircraft News

After Three Years on Mars, NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter Mission Ends

News Release

4 Min Read

NASA, Lockheed Martin Reveal X-59 Quiet Supersonic Aircraft

1 Min Read

NASA’s Wallops C-130 Plays Vital Role in Successful Parachute Airdrop Test

Image Article

1 Min Read

NASA Aeronautics Highlights for 2023

Feature

4 Min Read

Armstrong Flight Research Center: A Year in Review

Article

Current NASA X-Planes

Since the X-1 broke the sound barrier in 1947, X-plane research has resulted in some of the most important and historic developments in flight. That tradition continues today with NASA's current stable of X-planes, each uniquely designed and capable of providing research to help transform specific areas of aviation for the 21st century.

Artist illustration of a smaller commercial airliner flying above the clouds.

X-66

To be built in partnership with Boeing, the X-66 will serve as NASA's Sustainable Flight Demonstrator. The goal is to showcase a new aircraft configuration that will help the aviation community achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Aeronautics–Artist illustration of the X-59 in flight over land against bright blue skies.

X-59

Built under contract by Lockheed Martin, the X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA's Quesst mission to collect data that could make commercial supersonic flight over land possible, dramatically reducing air travel time in the United States or anywhere in the world

NASA’s first all-electric X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell, in its final configuration.

X-57

Built by modifying an Italian Tecnam P2006T to be powered by an electric propulsion system, since 2016 the X-57 project has shared lessons learned about battery technology, electromagnetic interference, motor controller design, and so much more.

aircraft Flown at armstrong FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

See List of Armstrong's Aircraft Fleet

Gulfstream III

Aerodynamics Research Test Bed

X-57

Maxwell all-electric experimental aircraft

DC-8

Airborne Science Laboratory

ER-2

High-Altitude Science Aircraft

F-15B

Aeronautics Research Test Bed

Global Hawk

Unmanned Aerial System

aircraft operations

Johnson Space Center

The Houston-based space center plays host to a number of NASA aircraft that are used for astronaut training and flight proficiency, transport of oversized cargo, and hosting airborne science investigations of planet Earth.

Read About the JSC Aircraft

NASA Johnson Center Aircraft. The large image is of the Super Guppy and the smaller images (left to right): 1. WB57 (N926NA, N927NA, & N928NA), G-V (N95NA), T-38 Fleet and the G-III (N992NA).

NASA

Airborne Science Program

NASA's Airborne Science Program, located within the Earth Science Division, is responsible for providing aircraft systems that further science and advance the use of satellite data. A number of NASA aircraft stationed at field centers around the country are available to support the program.

See the List of NASA Aircraft Involved

One of NASA’s three WB-57 aircraft that support the agency’s Airborne Science Program is seen here on the ramp at Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA / Norah Moran