Boeing, NASA airlines to collaborate on sustainable flight project

Boeing (BA) and NASA announced that they will collaborate with U.S. airlines to advise the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project and development of the X-66A research aircraft. As part of a new sustainability coalition, Alaska Airlines (ALK), American Airlines (AAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV) and United Airlines (UAL) will provide input on operational efficiencies, maintenance, handling characteristics and airport compatibility. NASA and Boeing also unveiled the new X-66A livery at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. “Hearing directly from the operators during all phases of the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project will help us understand exact requirements and tradeoffs,” said Todd Citron, Boeing chief technology officer. “The airlines’ feedback will significantly contribute to the X-66A project learnings while furthering aviation sustainability.” The X-66A will test the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing airframe configuration and will be built from a modified MD-90 aircraft at a Boeing facility in Palmdale, California.