LONG BEACH— A mysterious black aircraft that briefly emerged from a hangar at Long Beach Airport (LGB) has been identified as Aevum’s Ravn X, an unusual autonomous aircraft designed to support space-launch missions.
The unexpected appearance on Thursday night surprised local aviation photographers because the sleek, cockpitless airframe had remained largely out of public view for years.
The sighting gained attention after aviation photographer Ricky Schol spotted the aircraft while driving past the airport.
After initially mistaking its angular silhouette for an F-117 Nighthawk, he returned to investigate and photographed the aircraft from roughly 100 feet away. The aircraft carried the FAA registration N567RX, a number associated with Aevum and the Ravn X program.
Ravn X Identified After Surprise Sighting
The aircraft belongs to Aevum, a U.S. aerospace company developing autonomous aircraft and responsive space-launch systems.
Aevum’s current website still lists Ravn X as an autonomous aircraft capable of serving as a mobile launch platform, flight-test vehicle, and heavy cargo aircraft.
The Ravn X was originally presented as the first stage of a multi-stage launch architecture. Its design allows the aircraft to carry a rocket before releasing it at high altitude, where the rocket would continue toward orbit with a satellite or other payload.
The aircraft is substantial despite its unmanned configuration.
Earlier specifications described an 80-foot-long airframe with a 60-foot wingspan and a gross weight of about 55,000 pounds, placing it among the largest unmanned aircraft concepts developed for space-launch operations.
Space Launch Role Gains Importance
Aevum originally promoted Ravn X as a way to provide faster and more flexible access to low Earth orbit.
The company envisioned using the aircraft as an airborne launch platform that could operate from conventional runways rather than relying entirely on traditional fixed launch infrastructure.
The original concept also targeted rapid-response missions. Earlier company plans called for the Ravn X system to release a rocket carrying small satellite payloads after climbing to high altitude, with the overall architecture intended to reduce the time between mission tasking and launch.
However, the program did not progress according to its original public schedule. Aevum had planned launch testing from Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida, but subsequent public information about operational flight activity became limited.
Long Beach Test Raises Fresh Questions Today
The latest appearance is therefore significant because it suggests the Ravn X program has not completely disappeared. Photographers observed the aircraft being removed from a hangar, positioned near the runway and moved slightly before it was taken back inside.
There was no confirmed evidence of an airborne test during the sighting.
Photographers reported seeing no exhaust or hearing engines, while the aircraft’s visible configuration has raised questions about whether it remains a full-size mockup or has been modified for limited ground testing.
Aevum’s present website continues to describe Ravn X as a 27-ton autonomous aircraft and highlights its potential roles in launch support, heavy cargo movement, and autonomous operations, TWZ reported.
The unexpected Long Beach appearance could therefore represent renewed testing or development activity, although Aevum has not publicly explained the purpose of the latest movement.
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