NASA and Boeing X66A scaled
With all the negative news around the GTF, it is encouraging that RTX announced this morning that Boeing selected the Pratt & Whitney GTF to power the X-66A. RTX also announced that the project would use nacelles and engine accessories from another one of its units, Collins Aerospace. Pratt & Whitney and Collins will also support ground and flight tests, slated to start in 2028.
The X-66A is a Sustainable Flight Demonstrator and is part of NASA’s broader Sustainable Flight National Partnership, which is dedicated to developing technologies needed to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions for commercial aviation. Boeing’s X-66A program focuses on developing a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) concept, which could significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions for next-generation single-aisle aircraft.
Regarding the GTF, the current concern with powered metal material does not apply to engines from 2022 onward. The GTF is also certified to operate with SAF.
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Start My Test Flight →Unsurprisingly, Boeing selected RTX as a partner, as it is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. Virtually every Western commercial aircraft has inputs from an RTX unit.Â
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