Aurora Flight Sciences Completes Fuselage for X-65 Active Flow Control Demonstrator
Aurora Flight Sciences has completed the fuselage for the X-65, an experimental aircraft using active flow control (AFC) instead of traditional control surfaces. The fuselage fabrication follows three years of design and wind tunnel testing under a Pentagon program. The X-65 is set for its first flight in 2027 and features a 9.1m wingspan, a gross weight of 3,175kg, and speeds up to 463kt. The project is funded by DARPA under the CRANE program, with Aurora receiving a $42 million contract in December 2022.
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Aurora Flight Sciences has completed the fuselage for the X-65, an experimental aircraft that utilizes active flow control (AFC) instead of traditional mechanical control surfaces. The design replaces rudders, flaps, and ailerons with embedded effectors projecting jets of air to control the aircraft's movements.
Fabrication began in January 2023 after three years of design and testing under a Pentagon program. The fuselage was completed in February 2026 at a West Virginia facility, where other components are also being made.
The X-65 has a wingspan of 9.1m, a gross weight of 3,175kg, and a maximum speed of 463kt. The project is funded by DARPA under the CRANE program, with an initial $42 million contract awarded in December 2022.
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