The most bizarre aircraft in aviation history

Some engineers have proposed an oddly shaped aircraft idea to significantly save fuel consumption.

Air travel is growing globally, causing emissions to rise faster than rail, road or sea travel.

One solution to reverse this trend is the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF can reduce the emissions of a flight by 80% if produced and used properly. However, SAF is not in abundant supply.

Therefore, to save significant fuel, engineers proposed a completely new, extremely bold aircraft shape design.

Specifically, they want to eliminate the traditional tube-and-wing design that has existed throughout the 100-year history of commercial aviation, and replace it with a "fused wing" design. The wing will take up most of the fuselage area and create a distinctive aircraft shape.

Some engineers are looking for ways to reduce emissions through aircraft design. Photo: Nautilus

In 2020, Airbus unveiled a small demonstrator aircraft to test a design that it determined could save 20% fuel.

Three years later, JetZero announced plans to produce a similar design that could seat 200 passengers.

Natilus is also entering the race with its Horizon prototype, a hybrid-wing aircraft that can carry around 200 passengers and uses 30% less fuel than the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, and emits half as much carbon.

Founded in 2016, Natilus has launched a cargo drone called Kona, which has a fuselage-wing design. Kona has received more than 400 orders. The final version will be operational within the next two years.

Much of the technology from the Kona will be transferred to the Horizon, but the passenger plane will have a conventional cockpit and crew. The company has set an ambitious goal of having the aircraft operational by 2030.

No brand new aircraft has ever gone from design to full certification in just six years.

The Natilus Horizon passenger aircraft aims to reduce emissions by 50% and increase payload by 40% thanks to its wing-body shape. Photo: Nautilus

The new design can reduce drag by 30%. Photo: Nautilus

Natilus co-founder and CEO Aleksey Matyushev said one of the challenges of the blended wing design is stability and control. "I think this is where McDonnell Douglas and Boeing went wrong," said Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev.

One way to keep a plane stable is to use complex flight control computers. Otherwise, the plane's surfaces need to be modified to bring about aerodynamic changes, and Natilus chose this solution, unlike JetZero.

The new design can reduce drag by 30%, reduce weight while still being able to accommodate the same amount of cargo or passengers as the traditional design. "Small aircraft use small engines that burn less fuel, reducing emissions per passenger seat by about 50%. The extended fuselage increases floor space by 30%," Mr. Matyushev introduced.

Not everything about Horizon is new. The planes will use existing engine technology, as switching to electric or hydrogen fuel cells would be too risky. They also won’t require major changes to airport infrastructure.

According to aviation analyst Gary Crichlow, recent delays in Boeing and Airbus deliveries mean airlines will have to wait until the 2030s for new aircraft. This is an opportunity for new aircraft manufacturers to enter the market.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/mau-may-bay-ky-quac-nhat-lich-su-hang-khong-172241107055843523.htm