At approximately 7:35 a.m. on July 10th, the X-56B, a remotely piloted experimental aircraft, experienced an incident shortly after takeoff from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
The aircraft encountered an anomaly in flight causing a hard impact to the ground and destroyed the vehicle. There were no injuries or casualties.
The X-56B recently began a new flight series. The flight was April 19 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, with partner Northrop Grumman.
The X-56B remotely piloted aircraft ground crew prepares the aircraft to begin a new flight series on April 19
The X-56B uses the same centerbody as the earlier X-56A, which concluded testing in 2019. The X-56A suppressed a potentially destructive vibration called flutter. Flutter suppression permitted research of the aircraft’s lightweight, flexible wings.
Photos: NASA / Lauren Hughes
Source: NASA Press Release