NASA cancels its intention to test an all-electric plane
NASA has canceled its plan to fly the X-57 experimental electric aircraft due to an anomaly discovered in its propulsion system that poses a safety risk to the pilot and ground personnel.
The decision was made to prioritize safety and avoid prolonging the project beyond its planned end date. The X-57 Maxwell aircraft was modified from an Italian Tecnam P2006T to be powered by an electric propulsion system, aiming to pave the way for electric aviation and support climate goals.
The project faced challenges, including issues with transistor modules and potential failure modes in the motors under flight loads. While a fix was in progress, implementing it would have taken too long. NASA is also working on two other X-plane programs, with the X-59 expected to fly this year and the X-66A in 2028.
