WINGS RESEARCH DISCORD

On the future of their wings concept, the big boys R&D investments are heading in very different paths.

Boeing has been developing the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW), a novel wing design. From the fuselage to the wingtip, it has a truss structure. The company assesses that airlines will save a significant amount of fuel and running costs thanks to the TTBW design's aim to reduce drag and boost aerodynamic efficiency.

Due to the high aspect ratio of the wing in the TTBW design, it is unusually long and narrow. The wing and the aircraft are both supported by a truss structure. The truss structure, which is made to be both lightweight and sturdy, also decreases the quantity of structural material needed in the wing. Consequently, the weight of the aircraft is reduced and fuel efficiency raised.

Boeing has conducted extensive wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics models to verify the TTBW design. The company has also built a prototype of the TTBW construction and conducted field testing to verify its durability. But it is not yet obvious when the TTBW design will be applied to a commercial aircraft because it is still in the research and development stage.

Nevertheless, Boeing claims that the TTBW design could be applied to both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.

The TTBW design should result in a substantial improvement in aircraft efficiency and design, which would be advantageous to both airlines and passengers, if it is properly implemented. Below is the Boeing president excitedly showing off his new toy!

Airbus’ ‘Wing of Tomorrow’ concept is a high-lift wing shape that makes use of numerous cutting-edge technologies to improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce noise and emissions.

The unique features of the Wing of Tomorrow design include a natural laminar flow wing that reduces turbulence and improves fuel economy, and a composite structure that lightens the load and increases strength.

The design also incorporates complex wingtip devices that reduce drag and increase lift, as well as an updated engine nacelle that reduces noise and pollution.

In addition to the technical features, the Wing of Tomorrow general concept also contains a number of design elements meant to improve passenger comfort and experience. These include larger windows, better lighting, and enhanced cabin air quality.

Airbus has fully evaluated and verified the concept, and the company plans to start flight testing a demonstrator aircraft in 2023.

We hope that future Airbus commercial aircraft will have greater performance, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction if the Wing of Tomorrow concept is implemented, and that this continues the ‘healthy’ competition in due course.