NASA's X-70 Fractal: the new crewed X-plane
Where it stands: NASA has announced the X-70 Fractal, a new crewed research aircraft with rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology, about a 4.5-tonne (10,000 lb) takeoff weight, Mach 0.75 cruise, a 45,000 ft ceiling, 1,500+ nautical miles of range and up to 2,000 lb (about 900 kg) of experimental payload; Administrator Jared Isaacman says it will fly under the NASA banner within two years. Watch: a builder, a real image and a first-flight date.
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- 2026-11-04 NASA announces the X-70 Fractal, a new crewed X-plane for flight research — advanced, rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology, about a 4.5-tonne (10,000 lb) takeoff weight, Mach 0.75 cruise, a 45,000 ft ceiling, 1,500+ nautical miles of range and up to 2,000 lb (about 900 kg) of experimental payload in internal and external positions (NASA, nasa.gov/news-release). Administrator Jared Isaacman says the first flight under the NASA banner is expected within two years, and the only image released so far is AI-generated. Watch: a builder, a real image and a first-flight date.