About the Subsonic Flight Demonstrator (SFD) Project

The Subsonic Flight Demonstrator (SFD) project engages with industry and other government organizations to identify, select, and mature key airframe technologies, such as new wing designs, that have a high probability of transition to the next generation single-aisle seat class airliner.

Moving technologies from a research environment to a production environment can be a real challenge for industry manufacturers, and frequently promising technologies do not get adopted because of a variety of technical and economic risks. NASA, in partnership with industry, plans to develop and flight test an advanced airframe configuration and related technologies to dramatically reduce aircraft fuel burn.

The teams will obtain ground data to validate the benefits of the new technologies and use the research results to help industry make decisions associated with the next generation single-aisle airliner. Project Manager Sarah Waechter leads the project, with Deputy Project Manager Rich DeLoof, Chief Engineer Dr.

United States

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