NASA Armstrong Flight Tests Shape Memory Alloy Onboard PTERA Testbed

PTERA flies with the outer portion of its wings folded 70 degrees downward. The wings were able to fold in-flight thanks to a shape memory alloy material, which is triggered thermally and used in an actuator to move parts of the wing.

PTERA flies with the outer portion of its wings folded 70 degrees downward. The wings were able to fold in-flight thanks to a shape memory alloy material, which is triggered thermally and used in an actuator to move parts of the wing.

Photographer NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Location AFRC
SAWAFRCNASA ArmstrongNASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterSpanwise Adaptive WingShape Memory AlloyBoeingArea IFolding WingsAeronauticsEdwardsConvergent Aeronautic SolutionsPTERAAviation