NASA’s new X-plane and the future of electric aircraft

The world is on a quest to create cleaner, quieter airplanes that could replace the fuel-guzzling, roaring commercial aircraft in use today.
NASA is leading much of the research and development effort in this area and today they’ve announced an official name for their next X-plane concept: the X-57 “Maxwell.”
Maxwell is a hybrid electric research plane equipped with 14 electric propeller-turning motors located along the wings. The experimental plane will be put through a number of tests over the next four years in an effort to demonstrate that electrical propulsion can make planes quieter, more efficient, and environmentally friendly.

“With the return of piloted X-planes to NASA’s research capabilities – which is a key part of our 10-year-long New Aviation Horizons initiative – the general aviation-sized X-57 will take the first step in opening a new era of aviation.” Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator

During take-off and landing, Maxwell will make use of all 14 motors to create sufficient thrust, but once it’s up in the air it will only use the two larger motors located on the tips of the wings.

To accomplish the goals set out by New Aviation Horizons, NASA researchers are generating new plane designs and exchanging internal combustion engines that require lead-based aviation fuel with electric motors.
This design change could bring about a number of advantages. Internal combustion engines require bulky, drag-inducing mechanisms for cooling air, combustion air intake, fuel lines, and handling exhaust gases.
In contrast, electrical engines are smaller, less complex, and contain fewer moving parts. For these reasons, electrically powered planes could solve emission problems and, just like electrically powered cars, would be quieter than current commercial alternatives.Read More

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