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Key Points: The Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program faces uncertainty due to high costs and design ambiguities. Originally estimated at $300 million per jet, the program is paused as the Air Force seeks to reduce costs. Meanwhile, an aviation hobbyist, “BUILT FAST,” has created a remote-control prototype resembling NGAD artist renditions, complete with stealthy features and impressive maneuverability.

-His test flights showcase a sleek, futuristic design and highlight potential drone capabilities for NGAD.

-Though only a small-scale model, the project underscores enthusiasm for NGAD’s potential and raises the question: Could the real NGAD benefit from similar innovative design approaches?

You may be following the saga of the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter. The fledgling program has already endured its ups and downs. It was originally supposed to cost $300 million per jet. When people balked at the price and its design ambiguities, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall placed a “pause” on the program. Kendall would like to lower the cost to less than the F-35 at around $80 to $100 million per fighter. The NGAD may have a “Loyal Wingman” or what the Air Force is now calling the Collaborative Combat Aircraft – a drone tethered to the NGAD.

This is an inauspicious start to the NGAD program and there are still many questions about its design and who will build it.

Art Imitating Life on NGAD?

But now, there is a new development, well, sort of. This is a case of “art imitating life.” A civilian has come up with a flying prototype of the NGAD.

Okay, it’s not the real airplane but only a small-scale version of what some say it could look like if it ever does fly, but it is still impressive.

A hobbyist who goes by the moniker “BUILT FAST” has made a video of his own creation, and the thing flies great.

Must See Video

Check out this video for more above. You will immediately see that he designed a model that looks like the artist renditions of the NGAD with stealthy features. The model is about 24 inches long and 12 inches wide, and it appears to be a futuristic airplane that you’d expect to come from DARPA or Skunk Works.

More About This Video

BUILT FAST has about 14,000 subscribers and looks to be an accomplished remote-control airplane designer and pilot. This NGAD flight video, which is the third test flight for the model, has 2,100 likes, 31,000 views, and 337 comments. BUILT FAST also has videos with his own models, F/A-XX and SR-71 Blackbird.

China NGAD 6th Generation Fighter. Image Credit: Chinese Social Media.

Go about halfway into the video at the 9:54 mark and you can see this thing fly. It is much faster than I expected, looks beautiful in flight, and it can do Figure 8s and other maneuvers.

BUILT FAST was pumped up when his NGAD took to the air.

“It’s so easy to launch. It’s one of my easiest planes to launch you and you would never think that guys. Wow! Unbelievable!” he exclaimed.

“Oh my goodness. I just can’t get over this. It was my direct drive servo attachment system. So I directly glued the control surface. The vein is wonderful. Look at this beautiful plane. Wow this is the most incredible plane I ever made by a mile. I’m getting really comfortable with this thing by now.”

Now, About That Landing

BUILT FAST had to meet another challenge on this test flight. He had to land his NGAD. On approach, he did not cut the speed enough. The model NGAD then hit the grass on the soccer field landing area, scooted for about ten feet, and then flipped over twice. The little NGAD’s nose got ripped off.

Lockheed Martin NGAD

Image: Lockheed Martin.

Despite that mishap. We have to give BUILT FAST some credit here. He constructed a prototype by himself and flew it. Maybe the Air Force should hire him or at least watch the video.

He may have answered one question about the NGAD. Should it be remotely piloted or crewed? The pilot named BUILT FAST would likely argue that the NGAD could be a drone. Let’s see if the Air Force uses design elements that the model NGAD has. That would allow BUILT FAST to say I told you so.

About the Author

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.