Nasa and Boeing: Airplanes of the future

Frankfurt A huge wingspan, narrow wings supported by struts – is this what commercial airliners will look like in the future? The experts from NASA and the US aviation group Boeing at least believe that the concept offers many advantages. In mid-January, both announced that they wanted to launch a so-called “Sustainable Flight Demonstrator” in 2028. The experimental aircraft should be a 1:1 model, i.e. fly in its original size. The plan is to convert a short- and medium-haul jet.

Even though NASA and Boeing have been working on the so-called “Transonic Truss-Braced Wing” for around 15 years, the current announcement is attracting attention in the industry. The idea could help bridge the gap by the time hydrogen aircraft are available.

So far, the industry has relied heavily on synthetically produced kerosene, so-called e-fuels or SAF. But the alternative fuel is scarce and will probably remain so. Industrial production has to be established first.