DESIGNS for an incredible V-shaped passenger plane have been revealed – and its futuristic shape could make travelling more affordable for holidaymakers.
The revolutionary concept was created by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and is expected to launch by 2041.
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The new plane design is radically different from what we are used to.
Traditional aeroplanes need large wings to keep them in the sky, and the plane’s main body acts as a dead weight.
The Flying-V integrates the passenger cabin, the cargo hold and the fuel tanks into one space – the wings.
Under a blended-wing design, the whole airframe provides lift, which means smaller and lighter planes with less fuel usage.
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But despite its small frame, Flying-V can still seat around 314 passengers and carry the same amount of cargo as its counterpart, Airbus A350.
It also has the same wing span as the industry’s leading A350, but is more energy efficient.
But cheaper travel and more fuel efficiency won’t be a compromise on comfort.
You may be able to stretch out in economy class, with four different seating options presented in the design.
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The economy class might have collapsible beds allowing for comfortable sleep during the flight.
Other seating options include lounge chairs, individual seats and even group seating.
The plane is still far from being ready to take off but the researchers are hopeful they’ll have a prototype ready by 2041.
The real costs of travel on such aviation wonder are also undecided until the project is ready for exploitation.
TU Delft started working on a concept of a futuristic plane in 2019.
Since then, the scale prototype of a revolutionary Flying-V has undergone extensive wind tunnel and ground tests.
It finally took off to the skies in its first real-world test flight and proved successful.
The Flying-V is predicted to use 20 per cent less fuel than its Airbus equivalent.
Project leader at TU Delft, Dr Roelof Vos said: “The Flying-V is smaller than the A350 and has less inflow surface area compared to the available amount of volume. The result is less resistance. That means the Flying-V needs less fuel for the same distance.”
The research team will also explore alternative, sustainable methods of propulsion, possibly using liquid hydrogen.
Liquid hydrogen wouldn’t produce any carbon emissions but it comes at a cost as it is less efficient than jet fuel, and would require about 70 per cent of the cargo volume.
Vos added: “But that’s the compromise we have to go through to make carbon-neutral aviation.”
A similar concept has been presented previously by Airbus.
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The aerospace company unveiled a futuristic passenger jet with beds in economy class and futuristic virtual windows.
The “Maveric” aircraft also uses blended-wing design to provide a better passenger experience.
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