DARPA's X‑65 CRANE: Creating the future of aviation with air current-controlled aircraft

DARPA has announced the initiation of construction for the X-65 CRANE aircraft. According to the agency's agreement with Aurora Flight Sciences, a prototype is being developed that will be controlled by manipulating air currents.

This method will be tested by the X-65 CRANE, which - as DARPA highlights - diverges from traditional flight control methods established since the Wright Brothers' initial flight in 1903.

The X-65 CRANE aircraft's design somewhat resembles a rhombus. However, its distinctive feature is the capacity to maneuver without using movable control surfaces, which are typically tilted to help regular aircraft navigate the air.

Instead of moving aerodynamic surfaces, the X-65 relies on an Active Flow Control (AFC) system. This system allows the control of air currents surrounding the aircraft.

This solution lets the machine fly without traditional control surfaces, paving the way for future construction of structurally simpler, lighter aircraft.

The X-65 will retain a standard control setup in the initial safety testing phase. These controls will be gradually disabled, shifting their functionalities to the AFC system. Eventually, the X-65 is intended to maneuver without resorting to moving aerodynamic surfaces.

The experimental aircraft weighs roughly 7,055 pounds and has a wingspan of approximately 29.5 feet, with a projected speed of about Mach 0.7. With sensors installed to monitor the efficiency of AFC, DARPA aims to gather data that will help revolutionize both military and civil aviation in the future.