Undid revision 1171495156 by 2A02:C7C:5A46:1100:2569:99BD:9326:89E0 (talk) Europe is a continent not a country
|
m punctuation
|
||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
[[Airbus]] is studying a BWB design as a possible replacement for the [[Airbus A320neo family|A320neo family]]. A sub-scale model flew for the first time in June 2019 as part of the MAVERIC (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls) programme, which Airbus hopes will help it reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by up to 50% relative to 2005 levels.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reim |first1=Garrett |title=Airbus studies blended-wing airliner designs to slash fuel burn |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/singapore-air-show-2020/airbus-studies-blended-wing-airliner-designs-to-slash-fuel-burn/136662.article |work=Flight Global |date=11 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref> |
[[Airbus]] is studying a BWB design as a possible replacement for the [[Airbus A320neo family|A320neo family]]. A sub-scale model flew for the first time in June 2019 as part of the MAVERIC (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls) programme, which Airbus hopes will help it reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by up to 50% relative to 2005 levels.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reim |first1=Garrett |title=Airbus studies blended-wing airliner designs to slash fuel burn |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/singapore-air-show-2020/airbus-studies-blended-wing-airliner-designs-to-slash-fuel-burn/136662.article |work=Flight Global |date=11 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref> |
||
The N3-X NASA concept uses a number of superconducting electric motors to drive the distributed fans to lower the fuel burn, emissions, and noise. The power to drive these electric fans is generated by two |
The N3-X NASA concept uses a number of superconducting electric motors to drive the distributed fans to lower the fuel burn, emissions, and noise. The power to drive these electric fans is generated by two wingtip-mounted gas-turbine-driven superconducting electric generators. This idea for a possible future aircraft is called a "hybrid wing body" or sometimes a blended wing body. In this design, the wing blends seamlessly into the body of the aircraft, which makes it extremely aerodynamic and holds great promise for dramatic reductions in fuel consumption, noise and emissions. NASA develops concepts like these to test in computer simulations and as models in wind tunnels to prove whether the possible benefits would actually occur.{{cn|date=June 2021}} |
||
=== 2020s === |
=== 2020s === |
||
Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
The wide interior spaces created by the blending pose novel structural challenges. NASA has been studying foam-clad stitched-fabric [[carbon fiber composite]] skinning to create uninterrupted cabin space.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bullis|first=Kevin|date= January 24, 2013|title=NASA has demonstrated a manufacturing breakthrough that will allow hybrid wing aircraft to be scaled up |url= http://www.technologyreview.com/news/509916/hybrid-wing-uses-half-the-fuel-of-a-standard-airplane/|work=[[MIT Technology Review]]}}</ref> |
The wide interior spaces created by the blending pose novel structural challenges. NASA has been studying foam-clad stitched-fabric [[carbon fiber composite]] skinning to create uninterrupted cabin space.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bullis|first=Kevin|date= January 24, 2013|title=NASA has demonstrated a manufacturing breakthrough that will allow hybrid wing aircraft to be scaled up |url= http://www.technologyreview.com/news/509916/hybrid-wing-uses-half-the-fuel-of-a-standard-airplane/|work=[[MIT Technology Review]]}}</ref> |
||
The BWB form |
The BWB form minimizes the total [[wetted area]] – the surface area of the aircraft skin, thus reducing [[skin drag]] to a minimum. It also creates a thickening of the wing root area, allowing a more efficient structure and reduced weight compared to a conventional craft. NASA also plans to integrate [[High bypass#Extreme bypass jet engines|Ultra High Bypass (UHB) ratio]] jet engines with the hybrid wing body.<ref>{{cite web| first1 =Michael | last1 = Braukus | first2 = Kathy | last2 = Barnstorff|date=Jan 7, 2013|title= NASA's Green Aviation Research Throttles Up Into Second Gear|url= http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jan/HQ_13-002_ERA_Phase_2.html|access-date=Jan 26, 2013|publisher= [[NASA]]}}</ref> |
||
A conventional tubular fuselage carries 12–13% of the total [[Lift (force)|lift]] compared to 31–43% carried by the centerbody in a BWB, where an intermediate lifting-fuselage configuration better suited to [[narrowbody]] |
A conventional tubular fuselage carries 12–13% of the total [[Lift (force)|lift]] compared to 31–43% carried by the centerbody in a BWB, where an intermediate lifting-fuselage configuration better suited to [[narrowbody]]-sized airliners would carry 25–32% for a 6.1–8.2% increase in [[Fuel economy in aircraft|fuel efficiency]].<ref name= "AW160822">{{cite web| first =Graham | last = Warwick|date=Aug 22, 2016|title= Finding Ultra-Efficient Designs For Smaller Airliners|url= http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/finding-ultra-efficient-designs-smaller-airliners|work=Aviation Week & Space Technology}}</ref> |
||
[[File:BWB Composite.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Spectrum of aircraft design concepts. From left to right: conventional airliner ([[Boeing 757]]), blended wing body ([[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1 Lancer]]), flying wing with bulged fairings ([[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirit]]), and almost clean [[flying wing]] ([[Northrop YB-49]]).]] |
[[File:BWB Composite.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Spectrum of aircraft design concepts. From left to right: conventional airliner ([[Boeing 757]]), blended wing body ([[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1 Lancer]]), flying wing with bulged fairings ([[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirit]]), and almost clean [[flying wing]] ([[Northrop YB-49]]).]] |
||
Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
===Potential advantages=== |
===Potential advantages=== |
||
*Significant payload advantages in [[Airlift |strategic airlift]], [[Cargo airline|air freight]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Warwick | first= Graham |title= Boeing works with airlines on commercial blended wing body freighter |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/boeing-works-with-airlines-on-commercial-blended-wing-body-freighter/73711.article|access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Flight Global | date= 21 May 2007}}</ref> and [[aerial refueling]] roles |
*Significant payload advantages in [[Airlift |strategic airlift]], [[Cargo airline|air freight]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Warwick | first= Graham |title= Boeing works with airlines on commercial blended wing body freighter |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/boeing-works-with-airlines-on-commercial-blended-wing-body-freighter/73711.article|access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Flight Global | date= 21 May 2007}}</ref> and [[aerial refueling]] roles |
||
* Increased [[fuel efficiency]] |
* Increased [[fuel efficiency]] — 10.9% better than a conventional [[widebody]],<ref name=AW160822/> to over 20% than a comparable conventional aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web| publisher =NASA | title = Blended Wing Body Fact Sheet|url= https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/FS-2003-11-81-LaRC.html |access-date=2021-05-17}}</ref>.A 2022 US Air Force report shows a BWB "increases aerodynamic efficiency by at least 30% over current air force tanker and mobility aircraft".<ref>{{Cite web|last= Finnerty |first=Ryan|date=2022-10-12|title=US Air Force to test blended-wing logistics aircraft by 2027 |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-air-force-to-test-blended-wing-logistics-aircraft-by-2027/150501.article|access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Flight Global}}</ref> |
||
*Lower noise |
*Lower noise — NASA [[Auralization|audio simulations]] show a 15 [[Decibel |dB]] reduction of [[Boeing 777]]-class aircraft,<ref>{{cite web |last= Warwick |first= Graham |title= Hear This – The BWB is Quiet! |url= http://aviationweek.com/blog/hear-bwb-quiet |work= [[Aviation Week]] |date= Jan 12, 2013}}</ref> while other studies show {{nowrap|22–42 dB}} reduction below [[Aircraft noise#Regulation|Stage 4 level]], depending on configuration.<ref name= burl>{{cite web| first =Russell H. | last = Thomas | first2 = Casey L. | last2 = Burley | first3 = Erik D. | last3 = Olson|title=Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft System Noise Assessment With Propulsion Airframe Aeroacoustic Experiments|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20100023399_2010025666.pdf|access-date=26 January 2013|year=2010}} [http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/pdf/asm_presentations_status_hwb_community.pdf Presentation]{{webarchive |url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130516232013/http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/pdf/asm_presentations_status_hwb_community.pdf |date=2013-05-16 }}</ref> |
||
===Potential disadvantages=== |
===Potential disadvantages=== |
||
*Evacuating a BWB in an emergency could be a challenge. Because of the aircraft's shape, the seating layout would be |
*Evacuating a BWB in an emergency could be a challenge. Because of the aircraft's shape, the seating layout would be theater-style instead of tubular. This imposes inherent limits on the number of exit doors.<ref>{{cite journal | first1 =E. R. | last1 = Galea |first2=L. |last2=Filippidis |first3=Z. |last3=Wang | first4 = P. J. | last4 = Lawrence |first5=J. |last5=Ewer |year=2011 |title=Evacuation Analysis of 1000+ Seat Blended Wing Body Aircraft Configurations: Computer Simulations and Full-scale Evacuation Experiment |url= https://page-one.springer.com/pdf/preview/10.1007/978-1-4419-9725-8_14 |journal=Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics |pages=151–61 |doi= 10.1007/978-1-4419-9725-8_14 |isbn= 978-1-4419-9724-1 |s2cid = 55673992}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.evacmod.net/?q=node/2080 |first= Ed |last=Galea |title= Evacuation analysis of 1000+ seat Blended Wing Body aircraft configurations |type=video |website= Evacmod |access-date=August 25, 2015 }}</ref> |
||
*It has been suggested that BWB interiors would be windowless |
*It has been suggested that BWB interiors would be windowless;<ref name=":0" /> more recent information shows that windows may be positioned differently but involve the same weight penalties as a conventional aircraft.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last= Page|first=Mark|date=2018-09-14|title=Single-aisle Airliner Disruption with a single-deck blended-wing-body |url=https://www.icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS2018/data/papers/ICAS2018_0390_paper.pdf|url-status=live| publisher = ICAS |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220185203/http://icas.org:80/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS2018/data/papers/ICAS2018_0390_paper.pdf |archive-date=2018-12-20 }}</ref> |
||
*It has been suggested that passengers at the edges of the cabin may feel uncomfortable during wing roll<ref name =":0">{{cite news |url= http://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/boeing-not-convinced-by-blended-wing-aircraft-design-16061502 |title= Boeing not convinced by blended wing aircraft design |date= June 16, 2015 |work= [[Institution of Mechanical Engineers]]}}</ref> however, passengers in large conventional aircraft like the 777 are equally susceptible to |
*It has been suggested that passengers at the edges of the cabin may feel uncomfortable during wing roll;<ref name =":0">{{cite news |url= http://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/boeing-not-convinced-by-blended-wing-aircraft-design-16061502 |title= Boeing not convinced by blended wing aircraft design |date= June 16, 2015 |work= [[Institution of Mechanical Engineers]]}}</ref> however, passengers in large conventional aircraft like the 777 are equally susceptible to sutch roll.<ref name=":1" /> |
||
*The |
*The center wingbox needs to be tall to be used as a passenger cabin, requiring a larger wing span to balance out.<ref name= "Leeham3apr2018">{{cite news|date= April 3, 2018|title=Don't look for commercial BWB airplane any time soon, says Boeing's future airplanes head |work=Leeham News|url= https://leehamnews.com/2018/04/03/dont-look-for-commercial-bwb-airplane-any-time-soon-says-boeings-future-airplanes-head/}}</ref> |
||
*A BWB has more empty weight for a given payload, and may not be economical for short missions of around four or fewer hours.<ref name="Leeham3apr2018" /> |
*A BWB has more empty weight for a given payload, and may not be economical for short missions of around four or fewer hours.<ref name="Leeham3apr2018" /> |
||
*A larger wing span may be incompatible with some airport infrastructure, requiring [[Folding wing|folding wings]] similar to the [[Boeing 777X]]. |
*A larger wing span may be incompatible with some airport infrastructure, requiring [[Folding wing|folding wings]] similar to the [[Boeing 777X]]. |
Ablended wing body (BWB), also known as blended body, hybrid wing body (HWB) or a lifting aerofoil fuselage,[1] is a fixed-wing aircraft having no clear dividing line between the wings and the main body of the craft.[2] The aircraft has distinct wing and body structures, which are smoothly blended together with no clear dividing line.[3] This contrasts with a flying wing, which has no distinct fuselage, and a lifting body, which has no distinct wings. A BWB design may or may not be tailless.
The main advantage of the BWB is to reduce wetted area and the accompanying form drag associated with a conventional wing-body junction. It may also be given a wide airfoil-shaped body, allowing the entire craft to generate lift and thus reducing the size and drag of the wings.
The BWB configuration is used for both aircraft and underwater gliders.
In the early 1920s Nicolas Woyevodsky developed a theory of the BWB and, following wind tunnel tests, the Westland Dreadnought was built. It stalled on its first flight in 1924, severely injuring the pilot, and the project was cancelled. The idea was proposed again in the early 1940s for a Miles M.26 airliner project and the Miles M.30 "X Minor" research prototype was built to investigate it. The McDonnell XP-67 prototype interceptor also flew in 1944 but did not meet expectations.
NASA and McDonnell Douglas returned to the concept in the 1990s with an artificially stabilized 17-foot (5.2 m) model (6% scale) called BWB-17, built by Stanford University, which was flown in 1997 and showed good handling qualities.[4]: 16 From 2000 NASA went on to develop a remotely controlled research model with a 21-foot (6.4 m) wingspan.
NASA has also jointly explored BWB designs for the Boeing X-48 unmanned aerial vehicle.[5] Studies suggested that a BWB airliner carrying from 450 to 800 passengers could achieve fuel savings of over 20 percent.[4]: 21
Airbus is studying a BWB design as a possible replacement for the A320neo family. A sub-scale model flew for the first time in June 2019 as part of the MAVERIC (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls) programme, which Airbus hopes will help it reduce CO2 emissions by up to 50% relative to 2005 levels.[6]
The N3-X NASA concept uses a number of superconducting electric motors to drive the distributed fans to lower the fuel burn, emissions, and noise. The power to drive these electric fans is generated by two wingtip-mounted gas-turbine-driven superconducting electric generators. This idea for a possible future aircraft is called a "hybrid wing body" or sometimes a blended wing body. In this design, the wing blends seamlessly into the body of the aircraft, which makes it extremely aerodynamic and holds great promise for dramatic reductions in fuel consumption, noise and emissions. NASA develops concepts like these to test in computer simulations and as models in wind tunnels to prove whether the possible benefits would actually occur.[citation needed]
In 2020, Airbus presented a BWB concept as part of its ZEROe initiative and demonstrated a small-scale aircraft.[7][8] In 2022, Bombardier announced its EcoJet project.[8][9][better source needed] In 2023, California startup JetZero announced its Z5 project, designed to carry 250 passengers, targeting the New Midmarket Airplane category, expecting to use existing CFM International LEAPorPratt & Whitney PW1000G 35,000 lbf (160 kN) engines.[10][11] In August 2023, the U.S. Air Force announced a $235-million contract awarded over a four-year period to JetZero, culminating in first flight of the full-scale demonstrator by the first quarter of 2027. The goal of the contract is to demonstrate the capabilities of BWB technology, giving the Department of Defense and commercial industry more options for their future air platforms.[12][13]
The wide interior spaces created by the blending pose novel structural challenges. NASA has been studying foam-clad stitched-fabric carbon fiber composite skinning to create uninterrupted cabin space.[14]
The BWB form minimizes the total wetted area – the surface area of the aircraft skin, thus reducing skin drag to a minimum. It also creates a thickening of the wing root area, allowing a more efficient structure and reduced weight compared to a conventional craft. NASA also plans to integrate Ultra High Bypass (UHB) ratio jet engines with the hybrid wing body.[15]
A conventional tubular fuselage carries 12–13% of the total lift compared to 31–43% carried by the centerbody in a BWB, where an intermediate lifting-fuselage configuration better suited to narrowbody-sized airliners would carry 25–32% for a 6.1–8.2% increase in fuel efficiency.[16]
Type | Country | Class | Role | Date | Status | No. | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airbus Maveric | Multinational | UAV | Experimental | 2019 | Prototype | 1 | [26][27] |
Boeing X-45 | US | UAV | Experimental | 2002 | Prototype | 2 | |
Boeing X-48 (C) | US | UAV | Experimental | 2013 | Prototype | 2 | Two engine |
Boeing X-48 (B) | US | UAV | Experimental | 2007 | Prototype | 2 | Three engine |
Lockheed A-12, M-21 and YF-12 | US | Jet | Reconnaissance | 1962 | Production | 18 | YF-12 was a prototype interceptor |
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird | US | Jet | Reconnaissance | 1964 | Production | 32 | |
Northrop Grumman Bat | US | Prop/electric | Reconnaissance | 2006 | Production | 10 | |
McDonnell XP-67 | US | Propeller | Fighter | 1944 | Prototype | 1 | Aerofoil profile maintained throughout. |
McDonnell / NASA BWB-17 | US | UAV | Experimental | 1997 | Prototype | 1 | |
Miles M.30 | UK | Propeller | Experimental | 1942 | Prototype | 1 | |
Rockwell B-1 Lancer | US | Jet | Bomber | 1974 | Production | 104 | Variable-sweep wing |
Tupolev Tu-160 | USSR | Jet | Bomber | 1981 | Production | 36 | Variable-sweep wing |
Tupolev Tu-404 | Russia | Propeller | Airliner | 1991 | Project | 0 | One of two alternatives studied |
Westland Dreadnought | UK | Propeller | Transport | 1924 | Prototype | 1 | Mail plane. Aerofoil profile maintained throughout. |
A concept photo of a blended wing body commercial aircraft appeared in the November 2003 issue of Popular Science magazine.[28] Artists Neill Blomkamp and Simon van de Lagemaat from The Embassy Visual Effects created the photo for the magazine using computer graphics software to depict the future of aviation and air travel.[29] In 2006 the image was used in an email hoax claiming that Boeing had developed a 1000-passenger jetliner (the "Boeing 797") with a "radical Blended Wing design" and Boeing refuted the claim.[30][31][32]