NASA Completes High-Speed Taxi Test of Cross Flow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow Technology

NASA’s Cross Flow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) scale model completes its first major milestone – high-speed taxi test – Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2026, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. NASA’s F-15 research aircraft, with the 3-foot-tall test article mounted on its underside, reached speeds of approximately 144 mph during testing. If successful, the technology could be applied to future commercial aircraft to improve efficiency and potentially reduce fuel consumption.

NASA’s Cross Flow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) scale model completes its first major milestone – high-speed taxi test – Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2026, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. NASA’s F-15 research aircraft, with the 3-foot-tall test article mounted on its underside, reached speeds of approximately 144 mph during testing. If successful, the technology could be applied to future commercial aircraft to improve efficiency and potentially reduce fuel consumption.

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NASAF-15CATNLFCross Flow Attenuated Natural Laminar FlowSCHAMROQSchlieren Airborne Measurements and Range Operations for QuesstTransonicSubsonicScale ModelWing DesignFlightAeronauticsAerialFlight Demonstrations and CapabilitiesFDCAFRCArmstrong Flight Research CenterLangley Research CenterAirplanesEdwards Air Force BaseAeronautics Research Test BedAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateARMDIntegrated Aviation Systems ProgramIASPAdvanced Air Transport TechnologyAATT