Boeing has Potential customers for Blended Wing Plane

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 07 Jun 2007, 02:30

I can't speak for the veracity of the report, but one source reports that Fed Ex and UPS may be potential customer for a Boeing Blended Wing Plane. See:

http://www.kirotv.com/money/13456753/detail.html

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 07 Jun 2007, 02:37

By the time this baby flies, we will be out of kerosine.

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 07 Jun 2007, 10:06

Slow news day?

THis plane won't fly for another 20 years at the very least, so how can they 'have customers'?
Maybe after Y1 & Y3, around 2015 they can actually start to develop it...

Post by **ElcoB** » 07 Jun 2007, 10:38

They are already test-flying scale models :

Boeing Blended Wing Plane

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 07 Jun 2007, 15:25

Military contracts probably represent the real market. If it performs as expected, a blended wing design could revolutionize the military's cargo delivery requirements. Range and capacity are greater than conventional-fuselage aircraft, due to lower drag. Plus, it could offer a lower radar cross-section, an important attribute in combat re-supply scenarios.

Typically, a development program (such as this) takes about 20 years (witness the F-35 and F-22 programs), unless a major contract is signed. However, for a cargo aircraft, with lower system-technology issues, this timeframe could be shortened to about 10 years.

DC3 Fan · Post by **DC3 Fan** » 07 Jun 2007, 18:57

Here's another of my photos of the Boeing Blended Wing model at Edwards AFB.

David747 · Post by **David747** » 07 Jun 2007, 22:01

If the story is credible, this would confirm what some at McDonnell Douglas believed, that a BWB would be viable commercial design in the Aerospace industry. I still believe that Boeing will carry out more research into the BWB before it actually gets into discussions with commercial customers like FedEx and UPS.

sama91 · Post by **sama91** » 07 Jun 2007, 23:52

The shape of the Boeing doesn't look that attracting in the first place even though that's not that much of a concern. but why have such blended design, how is this going to help? i don't seem to understand the physics behind it. they should have tried the swept back wings like on the A380 [maybe].

DC3 Fan · Post by **DC3 Fan** » 08 Jun 2007, 00:01

This may be the answer (from a NASA website):

"The futuristic airframe is a unique merger of efficient high-lift wings and a wide airfoil-shaped body, causing the entire aircraft to generate lift and minimize drag, thereby increasing fuel economy. "

jan_olieslagers · Post by **jan_olieslagers** » 08 Jun 2007, 02:04

sama91 wrote:The shape of the Boeing doesn't look that attracting in the first place even though that's not that much of a concern.

Right O! And then again, to me it doesn't look that bad, either. Wait and see!

sama91 wrote:but why have such blended design, how is this going to help?

Today's transport planes have a fuselage that is, from an aerodynamics point of view, only a nuisance: it brings weight and drag but no lift. The blended wing design tries to minimalize (sp?) drag from the fuselage while having it contribute somewhat to lift. Also, drag is reduced by not having a a horizontal stabiliser.

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 08 Jun 2007, 02:07

A conventional fuselage results in increased frictional drag while tail surfaces also contribute to a large amount of drag. Eliminating the fuselage and tail surfaces eliminates this and basically results in plane with a high wing thickness ratio and the entire plane (wing) gives lift. This has been demonstrated by the Horten Brothers planes in the mid 1940's, by Jack Northrop's N-1 prototype in the late 1930's, the Northrop YB-35 (piston) and YB-49 (jet) bombers of the mid-to-late 1940's and finally, the Northrop B-2.

The long, thick wing gives a high ratio of thickness to span and carries large quanties of fuel. The high fuel fraction, coupled with low drag, gives a long range and great efficiency.

This design makes great sense for a cargo plane and can offer the ability to drive containers into the cargo bay. However, the lack of windows for most people can result in a claustrophobic effect. Boeing has said that they are looking at individual TV's at each seat so passengers can "look out", but this does seem to present a problem.

achace · Post by **achace** » 08 Jun 2007, 06:43

The problem for passengers is very mundane. Obviously people like windows, but the problem in the outer sections was keeping food and drinks from spilling during banking.

I understand Boeing are doing research on how to combat the problem but all I can envisage is seats on gimbals like a gyroscope.

As someone said previously, we may be out of fuel before this baby hits town.

Cheers
Achace

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 08 Jun 2007, 14:30

And obviously, non of the worlds big airports (especially those in the USA) will object to the construction projects needed to be able to recieve the Boeing BWB! They will welcome the few cargo planes with open arms...

Just joking of course, but I suspect it will be one of the planes bigger problems. It would be significantly bigger than an 380, wouldn't it?

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 08 Jun 2007, 15:14

sama91 wrote: but why have such blended design, how is this going to help? i don't seem to understand the physics behind it.

The convential shape of planes is far from optimal. For the moment we have a tube full of payload which doesn't generate lift (the amount is negligable). The entire lift from the wings has to be transported from the wings by means of heavy structures around the fuselage so as to carry the tube full of payload. This is far from being optimal.

The BWB design on the other hand behaves like a very big wing. Every kg of payload will pulled up with the lift generated above it.

The major problem the BWB design will face is the pressurization. The cylindrical tubes as we currently use in aviation are easy to pressurize. The BWB don't have an easy shape for that matter... But as the technologies progress it will be possible to reduce that problem in the coming years.

I hope this helps.

Chris

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 08 Jun 2007, 18:20

achace wrote:The problem for passengers is very mundane. Obviously people like windows, but the problem in the outer sections was keeping food and drinks from spilling during banking.

I understand Boeing are doing research on how to combat the problem but all I can envisage is seats on gimbals like a gyroscope.

Just give the passengers closed cups with drinking straws. Problem solved.

On another note, since the plane has no windows, they might as well place passenger seats backwards in the plane.

FLY4HOURS.BE · Post by **FLY4HOURS.BE** » 08 Jun 2007, 20:38

We might be out of natural kero but don't forget they are developing synthetic kero and other ressources such as hydrogen and natural gasses are still available in enormous quantity!

FLY4HOURS.BE · Post by **FLY4HOURS.BE** » 08 Jun 2007, 20:41

Just give the passengers closed cups with drinking straws. Problem solved.

Good idea!

Let's call it McDonald's Dogglass

boomer535 · Post by **boomer535** » 08 Jun 2007, 23:04

They put the pressurized passenger part of the airplane close to the centerline and put cargo and fuel outboard. Make the pressure vessel a tube like present AC and put LCD displays that look like windows and passengers will be comfortable. As long as the passengers are comfortable the operating and maintenance costs will sell the BWB to the airlines. We will know that Boeing is on to something when Airbus says it will never work. Just kidding!!!

RC20 · Post by **RC20** » 10 Jun 2007, 01:30

boomer535 wrote:T We will know that Boeing is on to something when Airbus says it will never work. Just kidding!!!

Kidding? Hah, that was good.

Certainly looks like a great freighter.

As for Pax, shoot, just put in some skylights!

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 10 Jun 2007, 01:48

FLY4HOURS.BE wrote:
Just give the passengers closed cups with drinking straws. Problem solved.
Good idea!

Let's call it McDonald's Dogglass

Now that is hilarious

you just made my day! (or my night would be more accurate)