X-48 Hybrid/Blended Wing Body

Boeing Phantom Works, NASA and the 

Air Force Research Laboratory have joined 

together to study the structural, aerodynamic 

and operational advantages of the Hybrid or 

Blended Wing Body concept, a cross between 

a conventional aircraft and a flying wing design. The Air Force designated the sub-scale 

prototype as the X-48B, based on its interest in the design’s potential as a multi-role, 

long-range, high-capacity military transport 

aircraft. The follow-on upgraded modified 

version has been designated the X-48C. 

The program’s goal is to learn more about the 

low-speed flight control characteristics of the 

concept when applied to large transport or 

cargo aircraft. Engineers are also intrigued by 

the design’s potential to get up to 30 percent 

better fuel economy than traditional aircraft 

due to its unique shape, a combination of a 

flying wing merged with a triangular body.

The 8.5-percent scale, remotely piloted X-48 

is dynamically scaled to fly much like the 

full-size aircraft would fly.

X-48B

The Blended Wing Body research team successfully completed 250 hours of wind tunnel 

tests on X-48B Ship No. 1 at the historic fullscale wind tunnel at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., in May 2006. 

NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at 

Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is hosting the 

X- 48 flight test activities and providing indepth flight research expertise garnered from 

Boeing's sub-scale X-48B Blended Wing Body technology demonstrator rests on the cracked surface 

of Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base before beginning its flight test program. (Boeing / Robert 

Ferguson)
FS-2012-08-090 DFRC

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dryden Flight Research Center

P.O. Box 273

Edwards, California 93523

NASA Facts

years of operating a variety of cutting-edge unmanned 

air vehicles.

Following completion of installation of test instrumentation, the second X-48B Blended Wing-Body technology 

demonstrator began ground checkout at NASA Dryden in 

late 2006, with the first five test flights occurring in early 

2007. Flight testing at NASA Dryden focused on the lowspeed, low-altitude flight characteristics of the blended 

wing body configuration, including engine-out control, 

stall characteristics and handling qualities. The short flight 

test program was designed to demonstrate that the novel 

design can be flown as safely as current transports having 

a traditional fuselage, wings and tail configuration. 

Both X-48B technology demonstration aircraft were 

built by Cranfield Aerospace in the United Kingdom to 

Boeing’s specifications. The subscale prototypes have a 

wingspan of 20.4 feet, with prominent vertical fins and 

rudders at the wingtips and elevons along the trailing 

edges of the wings. Three small model aircraft turbojet 

engines, providing a maximum combined thrust of about 

150 lbs, power the 523-lb. gross weight aircraft. The 

X-48B has an estimated top airspeed of 118 knots (138 

mph), a maximum altitude of about 10,000 feet and a 

flight duration of about 40 minutes.

X-48C

The X-48C, a modified version of the X-48B aircraft, 

successfully flew for the first time Aug. 7, 2012 at Edwards Air Force Base. The Boeing-designed aircraft is 

flying again in partnership with NASA. 

The new X-48C model was modified to evaluate the 

low-speed stability and control of a low-noise version 

of a notional, future Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) aircraft 

design. The HWB design stems from concept studies being conducted by NASA's Environmentally Responsible 

Aviation project of future potential aircraft designs 20 

years from now. 

Primary changes to the "C" model from the "B" model 

were intended to transform it into an airframe noiseshielding configuration. External modifications included 

relocating the wingtip winglets inboard next to the 

engine exhaust ducts, effectively turning the winglets 

into twin vertical tails. The aft deck of the aircraft was 

extended about two feet to the rear. Finally, the project 

team replaced the X-48B's three 50-pound thrust jet 

engines with two 89-pound thrust engines. 

Because handling qualities of the X-48C are different 

from those of the X-48B, the project team developed 

flight control system software modifications, including 

flight control limiters to keep the airplane flying within a 

safe flight envelope. This will enable a stronger and safer 

prototype flight control system suitable for future fullscale commercial hybrid or blended wing aircraft.

The X-48C retains most dimensions of the B model, with 

a wingspan just longer than 20 feet, and a weight of about 

500 pounds. The aircraft has an estimated top speed of 

about 140 mph, and a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet. 

The remotely operated X-48C Blended Wing Body aircraft lifts 

off Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on its 

first test flight Aug. 7, 2012. (NASA / Carla Thomas)

The X-48C Hybrid / Blended Wing Body technology demonstrator lifts into the skies after taking off from the bed of Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base on its first test flight. 

(NASA / Carla Thomas)