NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Desert skies. Precision flying. Breakthrough research.

NASA Armstrong is moving — from testing technologies that will enable future quiet supersonic flight over land to high‑altitude science missions and fast‑paced chase operations over Edwards Air Force Base in California. Here’s what it looks like when flight research pushes the envelope.

Drop your favorite moment from the video ⬇️

Learn more: nasa.gov/aeronautics

05/26/2026

Today is National Paper Airplane Day! ✈️

A great way to celebrate is to make your own X-59 paper plane. They won’t quite reach supersonic speeds of a real X-59 but can still sweep the competition in a paper airplane race. NASA's Quesst mission aims to change how we all fly in the future. ✨

➡️Learn how to make yours here: https://go.nasa.gov/42MVTxa

05/25/2026

This , join us as we remember and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to serve our country.

05/24/2026

At NASA Armstrong, every mission begins on the ground.

Our maintenance teams work tirelessly to keep a diverse fleet flying safely to support high altitude science flights and supersonic research, among other efforts. Their adaptability, expertise, and dedication help make breakthrough aeronautics discoveries possible.

Happy National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day to our NASA Aeronautics aviation technicians who put in the hard work at NASA Armstrong!

🔗: https://go.nasa.gov/4nGMz7y

05/22/2026

NASA’s X-59 is taking a scheduled pause after completing a series of high- and low-altitude flights.

Inside the hangar at NASA Armstrong, teams are performing detailed inspections, removing panels, and examining internal systems to ensure everything is performing as expected.

These inspections help the team learn how all the X-59’s brand-new systems work together. The X-59 will soon be back in the sky as the aircraft continues flight testing.

More on the Quesst mission blog: https://go.nasa.gov/4nKIqiR

05/20/2026

As the Apollo 11 vehicle was rolling to the launch pad in Florida OTD in 1969, across the country in the California desert NASA test pilot Bill Dana was flying the wingless HL-10 lifting body.

NASA's lifting body program paved the way for the space shuttle by showing that a wingless craft could glide to a landing like an airplane.

In this photo, NASA research pilot Bill Dana takes a moment to watch NASA's NB-52B cruise overhead after a research flight in the HL-10 lifting body (on the left). On the left, John Reeves can be seen at the cockpit of the HL-10.

05/18/2026

Culmination of wing research = flight test 🪽

NASA’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) project completed flight testing of a scale-model wing flown under an F-15 aircraft to help lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft.

Look inside NASA’s hangars, wind tunnels, labs, and flight control rooms to follow the work behind this game-changing technology.

Link to full video: https://go.nasa.gov/4ePIXxN

05/15/2026

05/14/2026

Sometimes, flight testing means getting low.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, having completed some initial flight tests at high altitudes and speeds, is focusing on its full operating range as teams work to better understand how the aircraft responds at lower altitudes and speeds.

These flights allow engineers to evaluate flying qualities, structural loads, flutter performance, and additional aircraft configurations.

Read more on the Quesst mission: https://go.nasa.gov/4wlsRSK