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Boeing's "Muppet" Future Airplane Concepts

RayChuang From United States, joined Jun 2000, 7113 posts, RR: 9
Posted (3 years 6 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 12160 times:

I think people should read this article:

'Muppet' Planes on Drawing Board
Dominic Gates
Arizona Daily Star citing Seattle Times article

http://www.azstarnet.net/allheadlines/132310

What is interesting from this article is that the Fozzie concept could be a preview of the successor to the Boeing 737. Thanks to improvements in propfan designs since the 1980's, improved aerodynamics and 787-derived structural design, we could see such a plane with the same cruise speed and seating capacity as the 737-300 but with 25+ percent lower fuel burn. This could be the plane airlines like Southwest, Ryanair, and even EasyJet could buy after 2015 to replace their oldest short-range jets.

25 replies: All unread, showing first 25:

DrExotica From United States, joined Aug 2004, 172 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (3 years 6 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 12136 times:

Very interesting article. Thanks.

Using an unducted fan, the cruise speeds are supposed to be ~500 mph. The additional hour on a transcontinental flight should be palatable for the Southwest flyer (keeping in mind that most of their flights are much shorter).

N707PA - Best looking commercial aircraft ever.

RoseFlyer From United States, joined Feb 2004, 5632 posts, RR: 27
Reply 2, posted (3 years 6 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 12117 times:

It is good that they are still being creative when designing new planes. You never know when an unconventional design will be more efficient. The reason why planes look the way they do now has a lot to do with convention. We have experience with the current designs, know they work, and have come close to perfecting them. But still there are other designs that could provide for similar or better efficiency if they are optimized correctly.

My job is to make it so your flight is not delayed. Come fly the friendly skies!

RayChuang From United States, joined Jun 2000, 7113 posts, RR: 9
Reply 3, posted (3 years 6 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 12102 times:

Quoting DrExotica (Reply 1):
The additional hour on a transcontinental flight should be palatable for the Southwest flyer (keeping in mind that most of their flights are much shorter).

Actually, the Fozzie concept is EXACTLY type of plane Southwest Airlines, Ryanair and EasyJet are looking for--not the highest top speed but with high fuel efficiency for high-frequency short-hop flying. It would certainly be perfect for short-range flying Ryanair or EasyJet does in Europe or intra-California and intra-Texas flying that Southwest does.

RoseFlyer From United States, joined Feb 2004, 5632 posts, RR: 27
Reply 4, posted (3 years 6 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 12014 times:

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 3):
Actually, the Fozzie concept is EXACTLY type of plane Southwest Airlines, Ryanair and EasyJet are looking for--not the highest top speed but with high fuel efficiency for high-frequency short-hop flying.

It would be interesting if it came to market and to see how the public takes to an unducted fan. It is similar to a turboprop in that it is a more efficient way to get power from the engine turned into kinetic energy, but only works at slower speeds. But since it doesn't look like a turboprop, then the public might be ok with it.

My job is to make it so your flight is not delayed. Come fly the friendly skies!

N328KF From United States, joined May 2004, 5617 posts, RR: 7
Reply 5, posted (3 years 6 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 11968 times:

Here's the original Seattle P-I article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002973147_boeingconcepts05.html

When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt

Parapente From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 449 posts, RR: 0
Reply 6, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 11686 times:

If Airbus is going to "beat" Boeing with their "new" A370 then perhaps they need to think "out of the box" in this manner

Keesje From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 9922 posts, RR: 51
Reply 7, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 11624 times:

Quoting Parapente (Reply 6):
If Airbus is going to "beat" Boeing with their "new" A370 then perhaps they need to think "out of the box" in this manner

Out of the box thinking happens on both sides.

It allows you to identify directions, focus research, find new solutions, mislead the competition.

Some of the findings are incorporated in more conventional designs.

RayChuang From United States, joined Jun 2000, 7113 posts, RR: 9
Reply 8, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 11429 times:

An open letter to Airbus Industrie/EADS:

Now you you've seen some of the concepts Boeing has studied for future, far more fuel-efficient airliners, how about admitting that the A350/A370 should be an all-new clean sheet design and come up with something really radical that could get a lot of business?

Keesje From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 9922 posts, RR: 51
Reply 9, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 11365 times:

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 8):
An open letter to Airbus Industrie/EADS:

Now you you've seen some of the concepts Boeing has studied for future, far more fuel-efficient airliners, how about admitting that the A350/A370 should be an all-new clean sheet design and come up with something really radical that could get a lot of business?

Yes! Something like this might work:

David L From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 8274 posts, RR: 41
Reply 10, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 11365 times:

Aw... I was all set to suggest deletion of an inflammatory thread. Smile

Quoting Keesje (Reply 7):

"Payload Driven Aircraft"... passengers have to pedal?

As Keesje says, all manufacturers have concept designs on paper. Whether any of them ever see the light of day is another matter.

... but I may be wrong

Tjc2 From United Kingdom (England), joined Feb 2006, 140 posts, RR: 0
Reply 11, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 10236 times:

Quoting David L (Reply 10):
"Payload Driven Aircraft"... passengers have to pedal?

Yup, ever seen Chicken Run?

It would be really good seeing something going completely against the grain of the conventional aircraft. It's a pity this kind of airframe is so proven! optimist

The only time I made a mistake was when I thought I was wrong...

AirlineAddict From United States, joined Jan 2005, 380 posts, RR: 1
Reply 12, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9674 times:

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Why do the Green Team concepts seem like derivatives of the DC-9/MD-80/MD-90, especially Fozzie? It looks like the MD-80 with the Ultra-high bypass engines.

ComeAndGo From United States, joined Mar 2005, 825 posts, RR: 0
Reply 13, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 9098 times:

The MD Pro Fan sees the light again.

Old radical crap.

BoomBoom From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 14, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 8698 times:

Quoting Keesje (Reply 9):
Yes! Something like this might work:

I think that met the same fate as the A350; versions I, II, III, and IV. Except of course, Boeing didn't sign firm contacts for 100 of them before pulling the plug on thier customers.

MCIGuy From United States, joined Mar 2006, 1779 posts, RR: 0
Reply 15, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 8675 times:

Quoting Parapente (Reply 6):
Quoting Parapente (Reply 6):
If Airbus is going to "beat" Boeing with their "new" A370 then perhaps they need to think "out of the box" in this manner

Out of the box thinking happens on both sides.

It allows you to identify directions, focus research, find new solutions, mislead the competition.

Some of the findings are incorporated in more conventional designs.

Is it just me, or does "Pro-Green" look like a giant A-10?
Silly

Like a Thunderbolt in your Cheerios...

CWFan From United States, joined Mar 2006, 83 posts, RR: 0
Reply 16, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 8602 times:

I don't understand why "Fozzie" isn't a serious consideration for the Y1/737 replacement. If you could shave what -- 20-30% off your fuel bill, won't a ton of the LCCs buy hundreds? Say you mate the open-rotor and Pi tail with full composite construction -- maybe you could get above 20% improvement in operating economics. At, say $80/barrell oil, that's like buying petrol for $65/barrel. How's that not an unbelieveably attractive consideration?

What's the hang-up with Fozzie? Man, they should turn these suckers out. If 2000nm flights go to $400 in the near future, I'd gladly fly for an extra 45 min or 1 hour to pay less.

BHMBAGLOCK From United States, joined Jul 2005, 2693 posts, RR: 6
Reply 17, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 8602 times:

Quoting Parapente (Reply 6):
If Airbus is going to "beat" Boeing with their "new" A370 then perhaps they need to think "out of the box" in this manner

The article clearly stated that Boeing is keeping an eye on innovations from Airbus as well;

Quote:

The Boeing documents include assessments of very similar research projects that its rival Airbus has sketchily mentioned at scientific conferences.

Quoting David L (Reply 10):
"Payload Driven Aircraft"... passengers have to pedal?

No, each passenger gets a yoke mounted to the seat back in front of him/her. That way, when the pilots die from bad fish you won't even have to leave your seat to save everybody's lives.

Seriously, these are interesting to see. The one thing that grabs me is the fact that not one of these concepts has an under-wing engine mount. Don't know if this is an indication that they're going to try to keep low to the ground or are just looking at alternatives.

Where are all of my respected members going?

Rheinbote From Germany, joined May 2006, 1567 posts, RR: 48
Reply 18, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 8543 times:

These configurations have been re-visited over and over for the past 30 years, predominantly by the academia. While they are nice study objects for sharpening the skills of students, their practical merits are somewhat limited.

Kermit: CG/loadability almost impractical, long-coupled canards limiting in field performance. Noise isn't that much of an issue to give an arm and a leg for.

Fozzie: empennage layout is a structural nightmare, both statically and dynamically. CG/loadability marginal at best.

Honeydew: minimum drag speed of delta wings is a pitfall. Remember the attempted Concorde return-to-base?

Beaker: folding wings? come on... How about laminar flow instead?

Pro-Green: obviously 'smudged' from an A330 (ab)using a CAD tool. I'd call it 'the mother of interference drag'. How about rotor-burst? Crash-worthiness?

Payload-driven Aircraft: in terms of configuration design, the X-48B makes much more sense. Why would you want to use vertical tails with a flying wing like that?

Simple Fyling Bus: obviously 'smudged' from an A318 (ab)using a CAD tool. Is that a V-tail?

Keep On Doing What You're Doing But Make It Funky

Scouseflyer From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2006, 2746 posts, RR: 6
Reply 19, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 8488 times:

"But since it doesn't look like a turboprop, then the public might be ok with it."

I don't know one of my colleagues cancelled a flight with VLM when she found out that the plane had props rather than jets - I asked her why and she reckoned that "cos they're old they're not safe"........................................

Azstagecoach From United States, joined Mar 2006, 146 posts, RR: 0
Reply 20, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 6753 times:

Quoting N328KF (Reply 5):

Quoting ComeAndGo (Reply 13):
The MD Pro Fan sees the light again.

Old radical crap.

My thoughts exactly. Are there any pictures of those on this site?

MCIGuy From United States, joined Mar 2006, 1779 posts, RR: 0
Reply 21, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 6634 times:

I see definite shades of Sonic Cruiser in "Kermit".

Like a Thunderbolt in your Cheerios...

RayChuang From United States, joined Jun 2000, 7113 posts, RR: 9
Reply 22, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 6405 times:

Quoting Rheinbote (Reply 18):
Fozzie: empennage layout is a structural nightmare, both statically and dynamically. CG/loadability marginal at best.

That would be true with yesterday's technology, but thanks to 787-style composite structural materials and fly-by-wire systems, such issues can be overcome on the Fozzie design airplane. A Fozzie design 737 successor would be snapped up by Southwest Airlines, Ryanair and EasyJet in huge numbers. Smile

Keesje From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 9922 posts, RR: 51
Reply 23, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 6358 times:

Quoting Rheinbote (Reply 18):
imple Fyling Bus: obviously 'smudged' from an A318 (ab)using a CAD tool. Is that a V-tail?

Yes the V-tails were looked at in more detail as part of the NACRE studies (NEFA)

High bypass promises better fuel efficiency and lower noise emmision, likely at the cost of speed. New materials enable engines with higher BPR's.

Test have been done for years to get a better insight in consequences.

http://www.dnw.aero/gallery/photogallery/LLFimages/alvast2.jpg

http://www.dnw.aero/gallery/photogallery/LLFimages/alvast.jpg

Agree that in the end of the day "the tube with wings" mostly comes out as most practicle as SC went Yellow Stone. Airlines want low CASM, purchasing conditions and low risk. Not innovation / prestige (well, most of them..)

Here is a Airbus presentation on new aircraft concepts, about three years old.
http://www.aerosme.com/download/Work...opFP6Call2/Presentations/NACRE.pdf

rgds

Rheinbote From Germany, joined May 2006, 1567 posts, RR: 48
Reply 24, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 6279 times:

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 22):
thanks to 787-style composite structural materials and fly-by-wire systems, such issues can be overcome on the Fozzie design airplane.

Oh, did I miss something lately? I wasn't aware that basic laws of geometry, mechanics and gravity have been altered by the 787.

Neither composites nor FBW will do anything to solve the problems inherent to that concept of integrating propfan powerplants into the empennage.

Keep On Doing What You're Doing But Make It Funky

Aloha717200 From United States, joined Aug 2003, 3538 posts, RR: 20
Reply 25, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days ago) and read 6266 times:

The Honeydew reminds me of the Space Shuttle scratchchin

Save the animals! Fly Frontier!

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