Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    3. Showcase 2025
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    19th March 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
    Showcase 2025

    In this issue – Showcase 2025

    6th November 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Defense Drones & Air Taxis News

Aurora SPRINT X-plane completes wind tunnel tests

Web TeamBy Web Team1st May 20252 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
The HSVTOL concept being developed for DARPA has fans embedded into the wings and a blended wing body (Image: Aurora)

The high-speed vertical take-off X-plane Aurora is developing for the US military has passed a key set of wind tunnel tests.

Boeing R&D company Aurora Flight Sciences has completed stability and control wind tunnel testing for the high-speed vertical take-off and landing (HSVTOL) concept. The X-plane is in the preliminary design phase doe the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) program.

The SPRINT program aims to design, build, and fly an X-plane to demonstrate key technologies that enable a transformational combination of aircraft speed and runway independence.

Aurora’s concept uses embedded lift fan technology and a blended wing body design to provide the scalable capability to cruise at 520mph (840km/h) and take off and land vertically on unprepared surfaces.

The wind tunnel test, completed in March at Boeing’s V/STOL wind tunnel near Philadelphia, used a 20% scale model to collect data that will improve understanding of the vehicle’s low-speed handling, particularly during critical transition from vertical to forward flight. The data will be used to validate computer models, feed the program’s flight simulator database, and add to the team’s knowledge base for full-scale vehicle design.

“This SPRINT wind tunnel test has validated our analytical estimates of the performance of the aircraft. With this successful risk reduction testing completed, the program is ready to proceed into detailed design,” said Larry Wirsing, vice president of aircraft development at Aurora Flight Sciences. “Aurora and Boeing have assembled a world class team of experts in advanced vertical lift technologies, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to continue working with the [US] Government team to finish the design, build, and flight test of this aircraft that will demonstrate game-changing capabilities in speed, agility, and cargo capacity.”

The recent wind tunnel test was the second major test event scheduled for the X-plane’s preliminary design phase. It follows last year’s ground effect test which showed that suck down effects created by the lift fans in hover were negligible and that the landing gear is set to the appropriate height to minimize adverse pitching moments from forming during ground operations.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleInnovMetric releases PolyWorks 2025
Next Article Orion Artemis II Moon spacecraft completes testing
Web Team

Related Posts

Drones & Air Taxis

Wisk and NASA to partner on US autonomous flight operations and standards

20th May 20252 Mins Read
Industry News

Society of Flight Test Engineers Europe releases Annual Symposium 2025 agenda

19th May 20252 Mins Read
News

US range opened to boost hypersonic and laser weapon testing

19th May 20252 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Industry Adoption of 3D Optical Surface Gauges

21st May 2025

NDT: Robotics and software spur innovation

21st May 2025

Wisk and NASA to partner on US autonomous flight operations and standards

20th May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.