NASA jet hits 144 mph with new wing design to cut drag and fuel use

NASA researchers conducted a successful high-speed taxi test of a new wing design called Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF), aimed at improving aircraft efficiency by reducing drag and fuel consumption. The test involved mounting a 3-foot-tall scale model of the CATNLF wing vertically on the underside of an F-15B testbed jet, which reached speeds of approximately 144 mph (231 km/h) without taking off at Edwards Air Force Base. This milestone allows NASA to evaluate the wing’s aerodynamic performance in real flight conditions before proceeding to actual flight tests. The CATNLF technology focuses on increasing laminar flow—the smooth movement of air close to the aircraft surface—thereby reducing friction and drag. Previous computational studies indicated that applying this design to commercial aircraft like the Boeing 777 could yield fuel savings of up to 10 percent, translating to millions of dollars saved annually. NASA’s approach of using a scale model on an existing F-15 jet offers a cost-effective