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Boeing patents a possible design for an A380 Competitor.
A new patent by Boeing shows a possible double decker aircraft featuring two very large engines and a monolithic wing through the center of the fuselage. What are the chances? (dvice.com) עוד...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Last week everyone was saying Airbus was stupid developing a double deck aircraft, this week it is OK because Boeing says so - make up your minds people!
It'll never happen
It'll never happen
Last week everyone was saying Airbus was stupid developing a double deck aircraft, this week it is OK because Boeing says so - make up your minds people!
As the FlightGlobal article says...
"Breguet's range equation is a cruel tyrant. The fuel-efficiency-conscious airframe designer has only three levers -- weight, thrust, and aerodynamics -- to pull and yanking one often complicates things for the other two. At the concept stage, however, it still helps to tug upon one of Breguet's levers, just to see what happens."
And...
"As the fan diameter increases, the 747's classic low-wing attachment to fuselage becomes impossible. So Boeing attaches the wings into the middle of the fuselage, then carves out space for a full payload within the wingbox structure. It's hard to imagine how this works in practice, but as a thought experiment it's an interesting idea."
Key words: "concept stage", "just to see what happens", and "thought experiment".
It's a patent filing, not blueprints so they can cut metal (or composites) this afternoon.
"Breguet's range equation is a cruel tyrant. The fuel-efficiency-conscious airframe designer has only three levers -- weight, thrust, and aerodynamics -- to pull and yanking one often complicates things for the other two. At the concept stage, however, it still helps to tug upon one of Breguet's levers, just to see what happens."
And...
"As the fan diameter increases, the 747's classic low-wing attachment to fuselage becomes impossible. So Boeing attaches the wings into the middle of the fuselage, then carves out space for a full payload within the wingbox structure. It's hard to imagine how this works in practice, but as a thought experiment it's an interesting idea."
Key words: "concept stage", "just to see what happens", and "thought experiment".
It's a patent filing, not blueprints so they can cut metal (or composites) this afternoon.
I heard somewhere that one of the 777's engines could power a 747. I don't know the validity of that statement but if its true, you could just put 2 of those on the plane and heighten the landing gear , or they could flatten the bottom like a 737.
The test you're speaking of involved a GENX engine (such as those used on the 787) being tested on a 747 for further use on the 747-8. In the test, the other 3 engines were turned off, and the single GENX engine powered the 747 through a low level cruise test.
However, Considering thrust values, 2 engines is a very near possibility. The A380 employes 4 engines rated for 60,000 lbs of thrust, totaling 240,000 lbs of thrust. A GE90-115b turbofan, such as those used on many 777's, generate 115,000 lbs of thrust, each. 2 of these turbofans total 230,000 lbs - just a mere 10,000 lbs short of the total thrust an A380 has.
With lighter airplanes due to composites, the GE90 would almost be sufficient to rise to this task. However, GE is also working on the GE9x project - a refresh to the GE90 engine series for newer planes, such as the new upgraded 777 series due in the near future.
TL;DR - We already have the engines to meet the demand that such a plane would need - We only need to build the plane.
However, Considering thrust values, 2 engines is a very near possibility. The A380 employes 4 engines rated for 60,000 lbs of thrust, totaling 240,000 lbs of thrust. A GE90-115b turbofan, such as those used on many 777's, generate 115,000 lbs of thrust, each. 2 of these turbofans total 230,000 lbs - just a mere 10,000 lbs short of the total thrust an A380 has.
With lighter airplanes due to composites, the GE90 would almost be sufficient to rise to this task. However, GE is also working on the GE9x project - a refresh to the GE90 engine series for newer planes, such as the new upgraded 777 series due in the near future.
TL;DR - We already have the engines to meet the demand that such a plane would need - We only need to build the plane.
The engines on the 747-8 produce 66.5 Klb of force, so two of them is 133 Klb. The largest 777 engine (GE90-115B, -300ER & -200LR) produces 115 Klb, so... it's feasible. You'd definitely need to design such an engine almost from scratch, or as-from-scratch as is typically done.
...and what about the center of the wing system? That region generally needs strong support to prevent the joints from just snapping....what happened to that concept?
If this patent becomes a real concept, woe to planespotters worldwide.