Dutch airline KLM is partnering with Delft University of Technology to create the "Flying-V,” a new concept aircraft that puts the passengers in the wings.
According to a report from Design & Development Today, the researchers want to turn aircraft design on its head and make it more aerodynamic by placing the passenger seating, cargo storage, and fuel tanks into the aircraft’s wings.
The Flying-V could prove to be more fuel efficient, particularly on long-distance flights. According to KLM, we could see a flying-scale model as well as a full-size section of the interior as soon as October, scheduled to coincide with the company’s 100th anniversary.
The concept has the same capacity and wingspan as an Airbus A350, but the unique boomerang-like shape would be a little shorter, lighter, and use about 20% less fuel. The Flying-V will carry about the same number of passengers (about 314) as the standard A350 and include about 160 cubic meters of cargo space.
The researchers currently plan to use turbofan engines that still run on kerosene, however, the design can be changed to suit electrically-boosted turbofans.
The size will enable the Flying-V to use existing airport infrastructure, including gates, hangars, and runways, but the redesign will give researchers the ability to improve the passenger’s flying experience. For example, the team plans on evaluating everything from seat design to the bathrooms.
Nothing on the potential price point, but if we’re sticking with the A350 comparison, the Flying-V could run anywhere from $269 million to $351 million.