NASA Announces X-70 “Fractal” Experimental Aircraft (Updated)

NASA unveiled the X-70 Fractal at Kennedy Space Center as a crewed research aircraft for testing advanced flight controls and maneuverability. Its design calls for rapidly reconfigurable controls and accommodation for up to 2,000 pounds of experimental payloads in internal and external positions. Published design figures include a 10,000-pound takeoff weight, a 45,000-foot ceiling, a cruise speed of Mach 0.75 and a range of about 1,500 nautical miles. NASA expects the aircraft’s first flight under its program within two years of the announcement and intends to use the testbed for multiple research configurations.