Radical, Fuel-Efficient ‘Flying V’ Airplane Could Replace Jumbo Jets

[GON]

The Flying-V, an experimental aircraft that promises significantly greater fuel efficiency over more conventional commercial jet designs, is moving towards a larger, more complicated version since the scaled, 10-foot model took flight in 2020 in Germany.

The Flying-V was designed as a fuel-efficient, long-range aircraft in which the passenger seating, fuel tanks and baggage hold are built into the wings. The aircraft will eventually have a 214-foot wingspan. Research shows that the unusual design stands to gain up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency than an Airbus A350 jetliner, considered today’s most advanced design. At full scale, the Flying-V would seat 315 passengers in two classes.

MSN

 

[hemioiler]

She sure looks ugly though.

 

[Taildragger]

If it looks right, it flies right. That don't look right.

 

[Cujet]

The form drag of an ultra thick wing like that is quite high. I remain quite skeptical of such "fat" flying wing designs.

Furthermore, the idea that a round tube fuselage is a high drag, zero lift configuration is incorrect. The airflow over the "tube" is not straight back, but rather follows a path from bottom to top, creating some lift. The way to minimize frontal area and lift induced drag is probably the way we are doing it. Long thin wings with a properly set angle of incidence, the angle the wing is mounted.

 

[skyactiv]

I wonder how that would be to land in a crosswind?

 

[wings&wheels]

...because middle row middle seats aren't miserable enough already.

 

[DuckRyder]

That is ummm - not visually appealing ....

Am I the only one that thinks the lack of landing footage is suspect...

 

[Taildragger]

MCAS ain't gonna like that one.

 

[Astro14]

Blended wing body have been proposed decades ago by NASA and others...they look much like this.

Far fewer windows than current designs. Passengers on the outboard "fuselage" will experience much great up/down when the airplane rolls, and much greater turbulence.

I'm going with the nickname "Vomit Comet"...

 

[JimPghPA]

Put a Canard on that thing to minimize the turbulence and you might actually have something.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Interesting but too far from the “ norm” in civilian aviation. Any potential fuel savings will be used up by the plane’s development cost which unlike military spending, cannot just be added onto the nations debt.

 

[gathermewool]

...because middle row middle seats aren't miserable enough already.

“Excuse me, pardon me, coming through, excuse me…

*realizes that the wife is looking up at you (in row Y) from row Z*

*long sigh*

…uh, excuse me, pardon me, coming through...