Bombardier revealed earlier this week it’s been studying the use of a blended wing design for future business jets. At EBACE in Geneva the company said it’s been testing a small-scale model of what its next aircraft might look like. The model, dubbed EcoJet, has been used in wind tunnel and flight tests as a drone and is part of a potentially radical shift in thinking about how to make business aviation greener.
Blended wings are nothing new, their aerodynamic efficiencies well documented, but Bombardier is taking it a step further. The company is looking at a variety of power options including sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen, hybrid and pure electric to push the rear-engine design along. Bombardier has been working on the project for three years and isn’t saying much about what it has discovered.
Will we finally see blended wing aircraft become a commercial reality? This would be a huge shift in civil aircraft design if they go ahead with one.
Passengers do not like sitting on a wing and not being able to look down. And when passengers are paying for the jet they get what they want.
The majority of passengers on existing tubes cannot look down. Only if you have the window seat.
How many passengers look outside these days? Most bring the window shade down so they can look at their phones or tablets better, or so they can sleep. Being able to look outside is not as big a deal as it used to be. It may be important for us pilots who like the view and watching the control surfaces on the wing actuate, but for average Joe or Jane Pax, not so much. They’ll care more about seat size, legroom, Wi-Fi connection speed, and price of their ticket.
I’m no expert but I know aesthetics. This thing looks badazz. There is a correlation between looking right and flying right.
Looks like an A-10 mated with a Starship.
Who cares if the seats are still small?
People don’t care what the plane looks like on the outside or engine parameters.
Who cares about technology advances if terminals are still cattle pens and flying is uncomfortable?
Russ is right, the blended wing concept has been around a long time, so why has it not already a reality if it is as good as suggested? Should have happened 20 or 30 years ago.
Definition of ‘blended wing’ seems variable – isn’t it supposed to be ‘blended-wing-body’?
Is engine placement part of the concept?
Might be a good start in the industry, but sounds like full of greenwashing.
Engine placement may reduce noise, at least from fans.
Otherwise I don’t get the point of the design – looks like basic wing with a version of winglets popular today.
Hmmm…looks like the wing spar would intrude on the aisle–not good.