ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 18,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected Boeing
[NYSE: BA] and its industry team to lead the development and flight
testing of a full-scale Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW)
demonstrator airplane.
The technologies demonstrated and tested as part of the
Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) program will inform future
designs and could lead to breakthrough aerodynamics and fuel
efficiency gains.
When combined with expected advancements in propulsion systems,
materials and systems architecture, a single-aisle airplane with a
TTBW configuration could reduce fuel consumption and emissions up
to 30% relative to today's most efficient single-aisle airplanes,
depending on the mission. The SFD program aims to advance the civil
aviation industry's commitment to reaching net zero carbon
emissions by 2050, as well as the goals set forth in the White
House's U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan.
"The SFD program has the potential to make a major contribution
toward a sustainable future," said Greg
Hyslop, Boeing chief engineer and executive vice president
of Engineering, Test & Technology. "It represents an
opportunity to design, build and fly a full-scale experimental
plane, while solving novel technical problems."
Ultrathin wings braced by struts with larger spans and
higher-aspect ratios could eventually accommodate advanced
propulsion systems that are limited by a lack of underwing space in
today's low-wing airplane configurations. For the demonstrator
vehicle, Boeing will use elements from existing vehicles and
integrate them with all-new components.
NASA's funding through the SFD Space Act Agreement totals
$425 million. The SFD program will
also leverage up to $725 million in
funding by Boeing and its industry partners to shape the
demonstrator program and meet the resource needs required.
Separately, Boeing's previous internal investments for recent
phases of sustainable aviation research total $110 million.
The TTBW airframe concept is the result of more than a decade of
development supported by NASA, Boeing and industry investments.
Under previous NASA programs including the agency's Subsonic Ultra
Green Aircraft Research program, Boeing conducted extensive wind
tunnel testing and digital modeling to advance the design of the
TTBW. Early conceptual studies started under NASA's Environmentally
Responsible Aviation program.
CONTACT
Boeing Media Relations
media@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing