Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3321 times:
When Boeing names an airplane design after a Muppet, it must be pretty different.
Two small teams at the company are re-imagining the airplane in futuristic configurations that sprout wings, tails and engines in unexpected shapes and places.
SNATH From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3232 posts, RR: 24 Reply 2, posted (7 years 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2896 times:
Very interesting article and thanks (to both!) for posting it. I just want to add one more thing. The article states:
Since April, Boeing's Phantom Works research unit, in collaboration with NASA and the U.S. Air Force, has been doing wind-tunnel tests on a small-scale, 21-foot-wingspan prototype of a Flying Wing or Blended Wing Body aircraft concept. Flight testing of the prototype is planned for later this year.
If anyone is interested, here's the related Boeing news release (with picture...).
Caribb From Canada, joined Nov 1999, 1627 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (7 years 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2492 times:
Quoting SNATH (Reply 2): Very interesting article and thanks (to both!) for posting it. I just want to add one more thing. The article states:
Since April, Boeing's Phantom Works research unit, in collaboration with NASA and the U.S. Air Force, has been doing wind-tunnel tests on a small-scale, 21-foot-wingspan prototype of a Flying Wing or Blended Wing Body aircraft concept. Flight testing of the prototype is planned for later this year.
If anyone is interested, here's the related Boeing news release (with picture...).
The Discovery Channel (Canada) did an interview with the engineer in charge of this wind tunnel test of the BWB. His said the emphasis ahead was to get a military and perhaps freight version first. I got the impression that an commercial use would be way down the road. This is only a prototype that will lead eventually to a larger commercially viable aircraft years from now. Interesting stuff though.
Lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10696 posts, RR: 100 Reply 6, posted (7 years 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2330 times:
I'm intregued that Boeing is designing for a prop-fan. However, these are very far out designs. Sounds like their technology group... Hmmm... the sort of stuff I used to do! (in the engine world).
Quote: "One big difference between this airplane and the traditional tube and wing aircraft is that -- instead of a conventional tail -- the blended wing body relies solely on multiple control surfaces on the wing for stability and control,"
A la Northrop's flying wings (derived from the Horton flying wings, of course).
Good luck getting the military to fund this now. Between trying to keep alive the C-17, the C-130J, and the Army *screaming* for the C-27 Spartan... I just am hearing zero interest from the military for a C-5 replacement. The Air Force just isn't going to get the money... I'd love to see a BWB... but its a while away.
I'm not likeing "Beaker" with its low cruise speed... Go to "Fozzie" with the prop-fan's greater efficiency for climb or fly at jet speed with flexible range...
The Kermit Cruiser is making too many runway compromises for me to take it too seriously. "High Manuverability" means *very unstable* just incase you missed the double speak. A great idea for a fighter or B-1 replacement... The market isn't ready for a 9G cruiser!
That said, take the "Kermit Cruiser" and put a more forward swept wing with lift required by the canards in cruise and you have a very fuel efficient albeit not very manuverable concept... (In other words, perfect!) In fact, there are some well known "wing tricks" that could be done with the Kermit Cruiser... tricks generally well known from prior Grumman designs (sorry, I'm forgetting their forward swept prototype's X number), that I believe we're looking at an out of date concept that has already been significantly refined and altered already.
But the honeydew seems like the way to get the BWB into service (partially). It appears to have a short wingspan for the body size... So I'm wondering if its a good 773 replacement?
So my final call is the "Kermit cruiser" could be well sized for the 737RS if it gets a radically different wing configuration.
The Honeydew seems like a well thought out idea that could replace the 773. Could it be made *just* fat enough at the front to be two isles at the nose with a single isle from the mid-wing on back? If so... a shrunk version could also be a 737RS contender!
Yes, I think the honeydew has much merit at multiple sizes However, I'm wondering if it might buy down risk to do the honeydew with a V-tail?
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From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Canada, joined Nov 1999, 1627 posts, 
Go to "Fozzie" with the prop-fan's greater efficiency for climb or fly at jet speed with flexible range... 
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