Wed, Feb 21, 2024
While at EAA AirVenture 2016, our ANN video crew checked in with NASA to find out what’s going on with their experiments into electric powered flight. They had the opportunity to interview Mark Moore and Sean Clarke, who are both NASA Principal Investigators for the Sceptor X-57 project.
Just the name of this project sounds pretty exciting, and it is. The project centers on using electric propulsion for airplane flight, and the system being developed by NASA is referred to as ‘Distributive Electrical Propulsion.’ As you will see in the video, this means distributing multiple electric motors along the entire wingspan to provide increased aircraft efficiency.
In the video, Moore discusses the advantages of the system through both lower cost of operation and a propulsion system that produces no carbon emissions. Clarke explains how multiple engines producing thrust over the wing also produces greater aerodynamic efficiency.
Moore feels that the experimentation being performed with the X-57 project will provide industry with technologies that can lead to full scale man-carrying aircraft within 10 years. The video shows some fascinating test being performed at Edwards Air Force Base, and it provides a look into what could be in the future for general aviation and commercial aviation.
Aero-TV is a production of the Internationally syndicated Aero-News Network. Seen worldwide by hundreds of thousands of aviators and aviation adherents, Aero-TV has produced over 2000 aviation and feature programs, including several hundred episodes of our daily aviation news program, AIRBORNE, hosted by Bri Cross & Christopher C. Odom. Parent company, Aero-News Network, has the most aggressive and intensive editorial profile of any aviation news organization and has published nearly 200,000 news and feature stories since its inception -- having pioneered the online 24/7 aviation new-media model that so many have emulated.
©2016 Aero-News Network, Inc., ALL Rights Reserved
More News
Bolen Issues Statement Reinforcing Need To Reopen Government The National Business Aviation Association’s President and CEO issued the statement below in response to further >[...]
Output May Reach Its Best Since 2018 Despite Trailing Behind Airbus Boeing delivered 53 jets in October, bringing its 2025 total to 493 aircraft and marking its strongest output si>[...]
Low-Cost Airline Admits “Substantial Doubt” It Can Stay Airborne Spirit Airlines has once again found itself in financial trouble, this time less than a year after clai>[...]
Travelers Leaving Changi Will Soon Pay for Sustainable Fuel Starting April 2026, passengers flying out of Singapore will find a new fee tucked into their tickets: a Sustainable Avi>[...]
Pilot Was Having Difficulty Controlling The Airplane’S Rudder Pedals Due To His Physical Stature Analysis: The pilot was having difficulty controlling the airplane’s ru>[...]
NBAA Responds To GA/BA Operational Restrictions
See All