Boeing X-53 AAW (Active Aeroelastic Wing) Experimental Aircraft

OVERVIEW

The Boeing X-53 AAW is based on the FA-18 Hornet series fighter with all-new wing technology.

ORIGIN: United States

YEAR: 2006

MANUFACTURER(S): Boeing Company / McDonnell Douglas / Northrop Grumman / NASA - USA

PRODUCTION: 1

OPERATORS: United States

SPECIFICATIONS

Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Boeing X-53 AAW model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.

CREW: 1

LENGTH: 56.10 feet (17.1 meters)

WIDTH: 38.39 feet (11.7 meters)

HEIGHT: 15.26 feet (4.65 meters)

WEIGHT (MTOW): 39,022 pounds (17,700 kilograms)

ENGINE: 2 x General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofan engines developing 16,000 lb of thrust each.

SPEED (MAX): 1,190 miles-per-hour (1,915 kilometers-per-hour; 1,034 knots)

RANGE: 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers; 1,620 nautical miles)

CEILING: 49,213 feet (15,000 meters; 9.32 miles)

RATE-OF-CLIMB: 50,000 feet-per-minute (15,240 meters-per-minute)

ARMAMENT

None.

VARIANTS

Series Model Variants
• X-53 - Base Product Designation; single example completed from F/A-18 airframe.

MEDIA

Our Data Modules allow for quick visual reference when comparing a single entry against contemporary designs. Areas covered include general ratings, speed assessments, and relative ranges based on distances between major cities.

Image of collection of graph types

Relative Maximum Speed

Hi: 1200mph

Lo: 600mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (1,190mph).

Graph average of 900 miles-per-hour.

City-to-City Ranges

NYC

LDN

PAR

BER

MSK

TKY

SYD

LAX

NYC

Graph showcases the Boeing X-53 AAW's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.

Aviation Era

Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.

Unit Production (1)

Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units

Military Market HI**: 36,183 units

* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.

** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.

Altitude Visualization

Supported Roles

A2A

Interception

UAV

Ground Attack

CAS

Training

ASW

Anti-Ship

AEW

MEDEVAC

Maritime/Navy

SAR

Aerial Tanker

Utility/Transport

VIP

Passenger

Business

Recon

SPECOPS

X-Plane/Development

A2A=Air-to-Air; UAV=Unmanned; CAS=Close Support; ASW=Anti-Submarine; AEW=Airborne Early Warning; MEDEVAC=Medical Evac; EW=Electronic Warfare; SAR=Search-Rescue

Commitments / Honors

Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force

Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway

Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift

Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War

Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars

Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War

Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War

Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War

Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era

Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War

Military lapel ribbon for experimental x-plane aircraft

* Ribbons not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns/operations.