Boeing X-53

[Andreas Parsch]

However, no information about the specific air vehicle, to which X-53A applies, came forward. There was an AAW (Active Aeroelastic Wing) program going on at the AFRL from 2002 to mid-2005, using a modified F-18. There were follow-on programs (e.g. here and here), and my guess is that X-53A has been reserved for a possible full scale flying AAW testbed.

To put this issue to rest: I just learned that the X-53A designation was actually applied to the F/A-18A (s/n NASA 853) modified for AAW research.

 

[flateric]

Ugh...when I was young, X- designation wouldn't be given to an aircraft so easily)))

 

[CammNut]

I just learned that the X-53A designation was actually applied to the F/A-18A (s/n NASA 853) modified for AAW research.

From a USAF release dated 7 May:

Active Aeroelastic Wing Flight Research Vehicle Receives X-53 Designation

The X-53

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by Air Vehicles Directorate
AFRL/VA

5/7/2007 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- AFRL researchers received word regarding the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) flight demonstrator's assignment to mission design series number X-53. The designation makes the vehicle AFRL's first successfully initiated X plane since the X-24 lifting body concept, which was later employed on the space shuttle.

Receiving X-53 designation marks an important step forward in AAW technology. The X-53 moniker affords the vehicle a higher recognition factor and will likely generate greater interest in the concept from a technology transition perspective. The AAW concept may play a crucial role in future aircraft, including strike unmanned air vehicles and global engagement bombers.

 

[CammNut]

Oops - sorry about the other stuff there...

 

[GTX]

I have the first, until X-31 and I love it. It is full of info

As do I. What would be nice (though unrealistic, I know) is if it were possible to only buy the updated/new information rather than the entire book.

Regards,

Greg

 

[Maveric]

Hi all,

two views of the Boeing X-53.
( Source: FliegerRevue )

Servus Maveric

 

[CFE]

The X-plane designations get further cheapened. Now we're giving them to mods of existing aircraft? At least planes like the X-14 and X-21 were drastically different from the planes they were based on. The F-111 with variable-camber wings never got an X-plane designation, nor did the F-8 with supercritical wings.

 

[sferrin]

Neither did the AFTI F-16 or canard and TVC equipped F-15. BTW what is the X-52? ???

 

[Matej]

Neither did the AFTI F-16 or canard and TVC equipped F-15. BTW what is the X-52? ???

Currently nothing with the strange explanation, that they don't want to confuse X-52 with the B-52 (!).......

 

[Andreas Parsch]

BTW what is the X-52? ???

Currently nothing with the strange explanation, that they don't want to confuse X-52 with the B-52 (!).......

There is currently a policy in effect to avoid duplication of "well-known" (a very loosely defined term ;D ) numbers. (B-)52 is only one example of this rather questionable procedure :

 

[elmayerle]

I udnerstand that the early F-18s, like those NASA flies, have some aeroelastic problems that required stiffening for production aircraft but which make them perfect for this research effort. I seem to remember an article in Flight International on this concept, though not this designation, some years back.

 

[Michel Van]

The X-plane designations get further cheapened. Now we're giving them to mods of existing aircraft?

wat you want ? the F-18 is build by Boeing now.

Some X-plane have even wierd Origin !
like Grumman X-29 made out a Northrop F-5A airframes!

BTW what is the X-52?

Currently nothing with the strange explanation, that they don't want to confuse X-52 with the B-52 (!)

or is a Ultra Top Secret X-plane for Aera 51

 

[fightingirish]

Maybe the F/A-18A (s/n NASA 853) got the X-53 designation to gain more money at Congress and from other sponsors. Just remembers me very much about the F-22A -> F/A-22A ->F-22A designation story... :

 

[Andreas Parsch]

Maybe the F/A-18A (s/n NASA 853) got the X-53 designation to gain more money at Congress and from other sponsors.

In its press release (already partially quoted above by Cammnut), AFRL effectively admits that this was indeed the reason ;D :

[...] The X-53 moniker gives the vehicle a higher recognition factor and will likely generate greater interest in the concept [...]

 

[sferrin]

Maybe the F/A-18A (s/n NASA 853) got the X-53 designation to gain more money at Congress and from other sponsors. Just remembers me very much about the F-22A -> F/A-22A ->F-22A designation story... :

The "F/A" designation wasn't intended to get additional money. It was more to stop the slash and burn. As it was it was so blatantly obviously a marketing sheme I think the USAF was embarassed enough to change it back. (They did change it back just not sure what the "official" reason was.)

 

[CFE]

In the Hornet's case, the "F/A-18" moniker was conceived to appease the A-7 community, who felt that attack would get the short end of the stick in the F-18. Sure enough, the Hornet has proven to be a weaker strike platform than the A-7 in many aspects.

 

[fightingirish]

Maybe the F/A-18A (s/n NASA 853) got the X-53 designation to gain more money at Congress and from other sponsors. Just remembers me very much about the F-22A -> F/A-22A ->F-22A designation story... :

The "F/A" designation wasn't intended to get additional money. It was more to stop the slash and burn. As it was it was so blatantly obviously a marketing sheme I think the USAF was embarassed enough to change it back. (They did change it back just not sure what the "official" reason was.)

Well, I thought, the designation "F/A-22" was intended to highlight plans to give the Raptor a ground-attack capability amid intense debate over the relevance of the expensive air-superiority jet.
At that time they were thinking that the "F/A-22" should take over the role of the F-117, so they needed more money for GBU-39 SDB addition.

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

A little bit info about the first flight of the X-53 is available at this link:

Boeing: Boeing F/A-18 with Active Aeroelastic Wing Completes First Flight

The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] F/A-18A Active Aeroelastic Wing or AAW, test aircraft has successfully completed its first flight at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

web.archive.org

In other words, the AAW F-18 flew long before it was designated X-53.

 

[royabulgaf]

Ugh...when I was young, X- designation wouldn't be given to an aircraft so easily)))

I didn't know the alphabet went up to X when you were young