Airbus "Maverick" concept plane

[RedDevil]

Airbus has a flying wing concept plane and is testing with scale models.

https://loyaltylobby.com/2020/02/10/...lane-maverick/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgDRkNseNxU

[Fat Charlie]

It's about time.

[freebeard]

it's past time.

Image of the "Boeing 797" from Popular Science, 2003:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blende..._body_aircraft

[All Darc]

Nice look... Nice RC model..

But in the world of RC models nearly everything can fly, even starship USS Enterprise :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFzu5ALdS7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jG28ZDsG3w

I would not be surprised if someone created a RC control version of a Borg Cube.

Originally Posted by RedDevil

Airbus has a flying wing concept plane and is testing with scale models.

https://loyaltylobby.com/2020/02/10/...lane-maverick/

[freebeard]

From the Wikipedia link:

Boeing X-45C US UAV Experimental 2002 Prototype Tailless
Boeing X-48 US UAV Experimental 2007 Prototype Tailless
Lockheed A-12 US Jet Reconnaissance 1962 production
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird US Jet Reconnaissance 1964 production

I don't find any examples of a RC Borg cube, but if one wanted to make [one], one might start with Alexander Graham Bell's tetrahedral kite.


https://i.imgur.com/yztNlIP.jpg

If you want to give it a try, ask me about adaptive subdivision.

edit: Okay you don't have to ask.

A tetrahedron inscribed in a cube:



Based on Bell's kites it would fly oriented with a vertex up. The inner tetrahedron could be a Rogallo Wing. With some propulsion.

Then it would be encased in a layer at the scale of Bell's kite, with an outer layer fine enough that you can paint greebling on it. Bell couldn-t be bothered with the fine scale because he didn't have CNC routers and 3D printers.

With Auxetic materials one could make the flying head from Zardos.

[RedDevil]

The placement of the jet engines is important.
The best position efficiency wise is behind and slightly above a wing.
The suction speeds up the air, increasing lift and reducing the risk of stalling.
This position is highly impractical with conventional airplanes, but not here.
As a bonus it will be less noisy, both inside and outside of the plane.

Airbus is fully aware of the difference between RC modeling and full sized planes.
If they had reason to believe this concept would not scale they wouldn't even try.

[freebeard]

Airliner Number 4 by Norman Bel Geddes


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airliner_Number_4

The aircraft was designed between 1929 and 1932 with the idea of showing "what the intercontinental air liner of 1940 will be like."[4] Geddes developed the overall design concept while German aeronautical engineer Otto A. Koller provided the engineering expertise as Geddes was not a trained engineer....

Designed as a V-shaped monoplane with nine decks, large capacity, viewing galleries, and public areas big enough to hold an orchestra, Geddes intended Airliner Number 4 to replace the ocean liner... It would have had a wingspan of 528 feet (161 m) and a capacity of 451 passengers plus a crew of 155. Power in the design was provided by twenty 1,900 horsepower (1,400 kW) engines with six in reserve. Each or the two pontoons that supported the plane on water would hold passengers, and also accommodate three lifeboats, sufficient for all persons on board.[4] Two interior hangars would hold smaller aircraft.[8]

Note that Vincent_Burnelli flew his CB-16 in 1928, the year before Bel Geddes started his design.

[All Darc]

I know the engineers are not fools.

But I saw so much weird look projects, since many years ago, and none ever got reality...
Like some turbo propellers of next generation that would get close speed to jet engines planes, with much less fuel, but in the end... never more we heard of it.

But if this project get real, it have a fine area for solar panels anyway.

[RedDevil]

I did see some turbo prop planes with weirdly warped propeller blades lately. It just does not get a lot of attention.

They don't replace the long distance air liners as jet engines have had their own development too. Some aviation expert said not long ago that aviation gets 1% more efficient each year, mainly due to jet development.

It is not enough to offset the yearly 4-6% growth in aviation passenger miles though.
The Maverick and likewise could bring fuel consumption down by 20% in one go. That should buy us a couple of years.

[All Darc]

Interesting fuel saving...

The problem I see it's safety. How evacuate so much people. The design don't help...

Edited - about propeller:I refered about this :



Propfan and ducted fan

Originally Posted by RedDevil

I did see some turbo prop planes with weirdly warped propeller blades lately. It just does not get a lot of attention.

They don't replace the long distance air liners as jet engines have had their own development too. Some aviation expert said not long ago that aviation gets 1% more efficient each year, mainly due to jet development.

It is not enough to offset the yearly 4-6% growth in aviation passenger miles though.
The Maverick and likewise could bring fuel consumption down by 20% in one go. That should buy us a couple of years.