Computer-generated model of the NASA BWB.

NASA's prototype of a Blended Wing aircraft

Blended Wing Body, or BWB, designates an alternative airframe design which incorporates design features from both a traditional tube and wing design into a hybrid flying wing configuration. The claimed advantages (see Potential Advantages below) of the BWB approach are efficient high-lift wings and a wide airfoil-shaped body. This enables the entire craft to contribute to lift generation with the result of potentially increased fuel economy. NASA BWB (Blended Wing Body) X-48 Aircraft Downloaded from NASA publication: http://oea. ... NASA BWB (Blended Wing Body) X-48 Aircraft Downloaded from NASA publication: http://oea. ... Image File history File links Dn8310-2_700. ... Image File history File links Dn8310-2_700. ... A Northrop YB-49 flying wing. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The lift force, lifting force or simply lift is a mechanical force generated by a solid object moving through a fluid. ...

Flying wing designs are defined as having no separate body, only a single wing, though there may be structures protruding from the wing. Blended wing/body aircraft have a flattened and airfoil shaped body, which produces most of the lift to keep itself aloft, and distinct and separate wing structures, though the wings are smoothly blended in with the body.

An early aircraft exhibiting BWB design principles was the Junkers G.38, which flew in 1929. This "super jumbo" airliner of its day, seated thirty-four passengers, six in each of its two meter thick wings, and the balance in the central fuselage. In comparison, a contemporary passenger aircraft, the Ford Trimotor, carried a total of nine passengers in its more traditional wing and box fuselage design. Junkers G 38 The Junkers G.38 was a large German 4 engined transport airplane which first flew in 1929. ... Ford Trimotor G-CYWZ of the Royal Canadian Air Force. ...

In some ways, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is a design which falls between classic flying wing concepts and the BWB concept. It is usually classified as a flying wing, however, as the protruding body sections are not much larger than the underlying wing shape structure. The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ...

Currently, both NASA and Boeing are exploring BWB designs under the designation X-48^[1]. Studies suggest that BWB aircraft, configured for passenger flight, could carry from 450 to 800 passengers and achieve fuel savings of over 20 percent. NASA has been developing, since 2000, a remotely controlled model with a 35 foot (11 m) wingspan. This research is focused on establishing the base data concerning the lift, stall and spin characteristics inherent in a Blended Wing Body design. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an agency of the United States federal government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... The X-48 is an experimental aircraft currently under development by Boeing and NASA for investigation into the characteristics of Blended Wing Body aircraft, a type of flying wing. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Progression of aircraft design concepts from conventional airliner (1), blended wing-body (2), hybrid flying wing (3), flying wing (4). Note that the progression does not represent either a chronological or technical progression; the YB-49, representing a true flying wing, actually predates all other depicted aircraft, while the "conventional" Boeing 777 is a new and technologically advanced aircraft

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1804x373, 888 KB) This image is a combination of four other WP images: Image:Boeing 777F.jpg (1) Image:NASA BWB.jpg (2) Image:Usaf. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1804x373, 888 KB) This image is a combination of four other WP images: Image:Boeing 777F.jpg (1) Image:NASA BWB.jpg (2) Image:Usaf. ... The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twin-engined airliner built by Boeings Commercial Airplanes division. ... The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Potential Advantages

• Improved fuel economy
• Reduced noise impact (if the engines are placed above the wings)
• Enormous payload advantages in strategic airlift/air freight^[2] and aerial refueling roles
• Improved structural weight

There are two types of airlifts in the military, strategic and tactical. ... FedEx DC-10 Cargo airlines (or airfreight carriers, and derivatives of these names) are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. ... Boom and receptacle: USAF KC-135R Stratotanker, two F-15s (twin fins) and two F-16s, on an aerial refueling training mission Probe and drogue: USAF HC-130P refuels a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter Aerial refueling, also called Air refueling or in-flight refueling (IFR) or air-to-air...

See also

• List of flying wings
• Northrop YB-49
• Northrop B-2 Spirit
• Boeing B-1B Lancer
• Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack'
• Wingco Atlantica (aircraft) - in development

Categories: Aircraft stubs | Flying wing aircraft | Lists of aircraft ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ... The Boeing (formerly Rockwell International) B-1B Lancer is a long-range strategic bomber in service with the United States Air Force (USAF). ... The Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO reporting name Blackjack) is a supersonic, variable-geometry heavy bomber designed by the Soviet Union. ...

References

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Flight International is a magazine relating to airlines, general aviation, and aerospace manufacture. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

External links

• ‘Blended wing’ craft passes wind-tunnel tests NewScientist.com news service, 14 November 2005

• How design of SAX-40 aircraft reduces noise and improve efficiency
• Progress on the Wingco Atlantica small BWB plane
• Airliners.net photo of the Atlantica prototype aircraft, July 2004