Will This NASA Collaboration Be Boeing's Next Aircraft Design?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Boeing will partner in the development and flight test of a full-scale Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) demonstrator aircraft - a design that has the potential to revolutionize the commercial aviation industry through increased fuel efficiency.

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[stevieboy]

The US government subsidizing research for Boeing, but complaining when other governments do it?

[heidirabenau]

It makes sense, why would Boeing develop an aircraft by themselves when they can develop an aircraft with ⅓ funded by NASA and the US Government.

[DreamlinerFan]

This is such a very unique design from NASA and Boeing. The wing looks very state of the art and I think it is a nice design choice!

I can’t wait to see a full scale version of this aircraft in the near future! 👍

[mohT]

That looks like quite an ambitious wing-span for existing airport infrastructure.

[neilpickup]

While fuel efficiency matters, it is not enough on its own.

What matters is total PROFIT per trip.

I am assuming that more of the fuel will need to be stored in the fuselage to compensate for the lack of capacity in the ultra thin wings. This has to reduce how much lucrative cargo they can carry.

So the real question the airlines will want answered should be 'does the extra fuel efficiency more than compensate for the reduction in cargo capacity?"

[Mark-uhcr]

It would be interesting if NASA would work with BOEING on a low Earth orbiting flight.

[SeeHearCandies]

Freeing up space under the wing for a modern propulsion system has not been Boeing's strength so far.

[louisprinsloo]

This is wonderful! We need to move forward into a positive future and leave the past warmongering and all negative things in the past. If the human race, excluding no culture, wants to ever populate space, we need to do our best in what is being produced to benefit all people in cost saving initiatives

[countbenjamin]

Since we the people pay for NASA....Boeing needs to pay us back with their profits. Perhaps a profit sharing system.

[TechboyFK]

Maybe this is the prototype for the B797?

[alooga]

Let Boeing ENGINEERS take the lead. No bean counters or MBAs need to be involved.

[djsa]

I'm pretty skeptical about this. The efficiency numbers they are talking about are probably only at a specific altitude, and not overall. I would also think that the flight envelope of a wing like that would be pretty narrow which would make it difficult to fly in less than ideal conditions. It would probably have a high climb rate, and be very difficult to land. Airports would have to make quite a few changes to accommodate it too. Should they build it? Yes, absolutely. There is always something to be learned. Just don't get your hopes up that it's anything other than academic.

[keith_]

That airplane is handsome if nothing else.

[fvngvsxx]

Interesting design, however, airports across the globe aren't currently capable of supporting aircraft with wingspans this wide. Implementation of this aircraft would require major airport redesigns globally.

[eamonahern]

I saw that on a science channel on YouTube. A major issue will be the wingspan because it might not fit into traditional bays that today's narrow bodies do.

[smoketinytom]

Gonna have to have those folding wings, otherwise it'll to wide for narrowbody gates and using widebody gates and charges otherwise.

[RScholl]

Worst case scenario, how does this work in water based landings, as the primary wing is above the water line, along with the exit doors? I feel like this must be resolved before this makes it to any commercial airline.

[AshMundo]

The wings won't hold fuel then? Also, airports handling A320s/737s won't limit this planes use?

[SpikeThePorcupine]

This looks like unique replacement for region jets

[aerohk]

Will Airbus launch a complain against the US government? This is the same as launch aid, no?
In addition, this design will still be less efficient than a flying wing design. Why not go for a flying wing?