Aircraft
Aurora Reveals Updated X-plane Concept
The high-speed VTOL advances to preliminary design review
A digital rendering of Aurora's HSVTOL concept design
Aurora Flight Sciences released this digital rendering of its HSVTOL X-plane concept on May 20, 2024, after completing a conceptual design review.

Aurora Flight Sciences has completed the conceptual design review for a high-speed, vertical-takeoff-and-landing (HSVTOL) aircraft it is developing for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 

The Boeing subsidiary received fresh funding from DARPA to proceed with the next phase of development—the preliminary design review, which it expects to complete in approximately 12 months. If all goes smoothly, the aircraft could achieve its first flight in mid-2027, according to Aurora.