This broad view of the Flight Loads Laboratory at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California shows the test set up for the high-aspect ratio Passive Aeroelastic Tailored wing.

The Altair, a civil variant of the QM-9 Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), shows off its lengthy high-aspect ratio wing while on the ramp at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' flight test facility at El Mirage, California.

Long, thin, high-aspect-ratio wings are considered crucial to the design of future long-range aircraft, including fuel-efficient airliners and cargo transports. Unlike the short, stiff wings found on most aircraft today, slender, flexible airfoils are susceptible to uncontrollable vibrations, known as flutter, and may be stressed by bending forces from wind gusts and atmospheric turbulence. To improve ride quality, efficiency, safety, and the long-term health of flexible aircraft structures, NASA is using the X-56A Multi-Utility Technology Testbed (MUTT) to investigate key technologies for active flutter suppression and gust-load alleviation.

The Passive Aeroelastic Tailored wing is tested in a fixture at the NASA Armstrong Flight Test Center’s Flight Loads Laboratory in California.

Wally Hargis, left, and Ted Powers complete preparations for testing the Passive Aeroelastic Tailored wing.

Eric Sinks, left, and Ron Haraguchi work through a challenge with the wiring from the Passive Aeroelastic Tailored wing to the test fixture.