Boeing tests new aircraft design

Valley Press ^ | May 16, 2006 | ALLISON GATLIN

[BenLurkin]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDWARDS AFB - NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is preparing to flight test a prototype blended wing body aircraft as part of a joint program with the Air Force Research Laboratory and The Boeing Co.

This unusually-shaped aircraft design - described as a cross between a conventional aircraft and a flying wing - is believed to offer greater fuel efficiency by providing more lift and better aerodynamics.

The aircraft is shaped as an elongated triangle, with a smooth line from the fuselage extending out into the wings.

The Air Force is interested in the technology, should it prove viable, for large aircraft used for several applications.

"We believe the blended wing body concept has the potential to cost-effectively fill many roles required by the Air Force, such as tanking, weapons carriage and command and control," said Capt. Scott Bjorge, X-48B program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Two prototypes of the Air Force-designated X-48B have been built. The first is undergoing wing tunnel testing at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia. When those tests are completed, it will be sent as a backup vehicle for the flight test program, expected to begin this fall.

The 8.5%-scale test models are 21 feet wide and weigh approximately 400 pounds. Intended for low-speed, low-altitude research flights, the three small turbojet engines produce a top speed of 138 mph. The vehicle has a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet.

"The X-48B prototypes have been dynamically scaled to represent a much larger aircraft and are being used to demonstrate that a blended-wing body is as controllable and safe during takeoff, approach and landing as a conventional military transport airplane," said Norm Princen, chief engineer for the program at Boeing's Phantom Works

[SIDENET]

[xcamel]

Check this...

[GOP_1900AD]

Almost the whole thing will be true steerage. Hardly any windows, dark, people puking, etc .....

[xcamel]

{{**Jinx**}}

[RunningWolf]

As you probably know, various blended wing design concepts have been on the drawing boards for a long time. Perhaps now all the various technology's and manufacturing processes are coming together in a way to make these vehicles very feasible.

Remember the McDouglas blended wing-body design proposition for a large civil transport?

W.

[Professional Engineer]

Cool RC model ping.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Hardly any windows, dark, people puking, etc ...

---

Yeah, right. Every night flight I have been on, or flight when they ask for the shades to be drawn for the movie, has been filled with people puking. As are all the middle section seats on the jumbos.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Lots of possibilities....

[BenLurkin]

VERY cool!

[Spktyr]

And this differs from flying on an Airbus in coach while they're showing a movie how?

[Pukin Dog]

Needs more windows. But, it makes for a bigger screen for inflight movies!

[BenLurkin]

Probably won't be seats either.

No kidding -- the airlines want to go to "standing room only" air travel!

[BenLurkin]

Neat!

[martin_fierro]

Looks like a flying AMC Pacer.

[ChadGore]

Re: Hardly any windows,

Feed the outside view into the video screen that also shows a movie of my choice, and I would fly this cross country.

For newbies who have never flown before, the window is a nice view, but I would gladly sacrifice a window view for a little leg room and a few more inches of private space.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Previous Lockheed concept.

[Paleo Conservative]

No kidding -- the airlines want to go to "standing room only" air travel!

At least that's what the New York Times reports.

[jonrick46]

This design looks like it will hold more people. As for the people puking, barf bags are cheap.

[SIDENET]

Almost the whole thing will be true steerage. Hardly any windows, dark, people puking, etc .....

Window seats would be comparatively rare, but it would have far more windows than what I fly on for the AF.