DARPA's X-65 Aircraft Set to Revolutionize Flight Control

The experimental jet, built under the CRANE program, uses jets of pressurized air instead of traditional moving parts, with the first flight expected in summer 2025.

• DARPA, in collaboration with Aurora Flight Sciences, has begun building the X-65 aircraft, an experimental jet that aims to revolutionize flight control by using jets of pressurized air, known as active flow control (AFC) actuators, instead of traditional moving parts.
• The X-65 is part of DARPA's Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program, which seeks to validate AFC technology and explore its potential applications in both military and civilian sectors.
• The X-65 aircraft will be built with both conventional moving control surfaces and AFC actuators to compare the performance of the two systems.
• The aircraft will feature a 30-foot wingspan, weigh 7,000 pounds, and be capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 0.7, making it similar in size and speed to military trainer aircraft.
• The X-65 is expected to be completed and unveiled in early 2025, with the first flight targeted for summer 2025.

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