?since the A380 has been delayed, how possible is a BWB (blended wing body) airliner?

Question

could have as many passagers as a 747 or the 380? maybe more? when could it be in use?

Answer 1

They have to solve a number of problems first.

Like how to pressrize it since the cabin would be a weird shape and subject to more stresses than a tube shaped fuselage. Also there is centre of gravity issues and regulatory issues regarding fuel stored next to the passeger cabin.

I don't think windows will be a deciding factor, hasn't been an issue for widebodies. A BWB would probably be equipped with cool enertainment systems.

But as fuel gets more expensive I am sure that solutions will be found and the BWB will take to the air. But it won't be for 10 to 20 years.

Answer 2

This has also been asked in the last couple of weeks.

The A380 has delayed production by a few months, it will still achieve type certification in the US and EU in the next couple of weeks. In contrast the 787 hasn't made its first flight and the blended wing concept is probably 20 years from flying.

The A380 has the same influence on the blended wing body that the 707 has on the A380, there will be a lot of commercial aircraft designed and built before the BWB gets off the drawing board and in to metal.

A380 has actually been a pretty fast program, like the new A350 which will take six years and was only started this year, seven total. Ten years is nothing for the BWB, to fly it in 10 years you'd need full scale development to start in 3 years and they haven't even looked for a potential customer yet.

Like HOTOL, it's a good idea that nobody is going for. What it would take to get me into a BWB would be a window or a bed. I either want to see what's going on or I want to sleep through the whole experience.

Answer 3

The A380 is still going to go in production, and the first commercial examples that Will be delivered to airlines are assuredly being assembled now. On the other hand, a blended wing design is now in the same stage that the A380 was 10 years ago (10 years ago, the size, shape and allure, and most general performance figures of the A380 were already essentially determined) so there is no way that a blended wing design could be even rolled out before the A380 actually enters service.

One of the problem with blended wing design is passenger acceptance. Have you ever seen how people fight over having a window seat? A blended wing design has essentially no windows, and the passenger cabin is shaped like a movie theater. Irrespective of the fact that blended wing is more aerodynamically efficient, that it allows natural shielding of the engine noise if those are installed on the upper surface, which will lessen the community nuisance (several airport have curfew because departing airplane overfly inhabited areas) and that it would be cheaper to operate that existing classic design airplane on a seat/mile basis, airline will not buy an airplane unless they are sure passenger will accept to fly in them. And the general passenger does not really care about the efficiency, he wants a window...
Blended wing could be introduced for cargo plane first, since containers rarely demand to see outside; but the market for pure cargo of the huge size that blended wing design allow is not that large, so it is unlikey any airframer will try until after some public acceptance is established, and that could take years as no one is really petitioning for them yet.
(And let's not mention the changes that airport would have to do to accomodate planes with a shape that is not really compatible with the current loading ramps; they are only starting to do the changes called for by the likes of the A380...)

Too bad, actually.

Answer 4

It's possible to have a BWB airliner but as others have mentioned, it depends on the passenger accepting something that is very different from what they are use to. Also, the economic aspect has to be taken into consideration before CEOs of major airlines order such a unique aircraft. The financial savings for the airlines has to be worthwhile for them to order BWB. However, the technology is here. For example, look at the USAF B-2 bomber.

Answer 5

The delay of the A380 wouldn't have any effect on the introduction of the BWB.

A BWB probably would first be introduce as a freighter, then after that the passenger version of it would show up.

As for when it probably be introduce, probably around 10 to 15 years from now.

Answer 6

Face is the section that concerns because it is the section you specifically ought to manage all day- an uncomplicated body might want to suffice. I look to get exhilaration from a reliable body too, yet specifically in a "yeah i'd shag her" kinda way. Face continues to be what quite counts once you're thinking something extreme. even if, a below uncomplicated body is under no circumstances reliable. One's defecit is made up for with the aid of personality at that element. An unattractive body might want to be someone who's truly off style, disproportionate, has undesirable dermis, etc. i do not supply intense precedence to boobs or butts, even if both or both are reliable (ideally the latter in my own opinion lol)

Answer 7

I did find some incredible pictures of what blended wings would look like, on the internet and now cannot find them at all! but I pesonally do prefer tube planes with windows so I can look outside and watch the takeoff and landings. I also like the look of engines bouncing up and down on the wings, the strength of the wings is very comforting with between 6 and 12 tons slung underneath them! So blended Wing Body planes can wait as long as they like!

Answer 8

the company i work for are developing engines which run on air.........thats right, air goes in, air comes out. something to do with nitrogen, ionisation, plasma, enthalpy, pressure.........ect.....expect it to be on the first commercial aircraft in about 25 - 30 years.

problems being that they need 2 be HUGe to devolp enough power, the powerplant required to move a 747 would have to be about the same size as the 747...but give us time...

Answer 9

this whole "blended wing" and "silent aircraft" idea is stupid stupid stupid!!!!! Oh my god, who wants to fly in a silent aircraft?? Half of what i love about aircrafts are the awesome sounds that they make!! it completes the experience, who wants a silent one!!

Plus, it looks so ugly.

But this project will not be ready for many years, like 15 or 20, so A380 will still be produced before this blended wing crap is.