New commercial airplane design
Flying-V. © Delft University of Technology.
TU Delft University, in the Netherlands, has unveiled a spectacular V-shaped long-distance commercial airplane. The aircraft’s design integrates the passenger cabin, the cargo hold and the fuel tanks in the wing structure. Its improved aerodynamic shape and reduced weight will mean it uses 20% less fuel than the Airbus A350, today’s most advanced aircraft. The Flying-V carries about the same number of passengers as the A350 – 314 in the standard configuration – and the same amount of cargo, 160 m3. Next October, researchers will present a flying prototype at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport to test whether the Flying-V can remain stable and reliable while being flown at low speeds – during take-off and landing.
⇨ TU Delft, “Flying-V.”
⇨ Ars Technica, ““Flying-V” airplane design promises fuel savings, but there’s a catch.”
