Achievement of NASA New Aviation Horizons N+2 Goals with a Blended-Wing-Body X-Plane Designed for the Regional Jet and Single-Aisle Jet Markets

摘要

The Blended-Wing-Body (BWB) aircraft configuration in both the regional jet and single-aisle jet categories is shown to achieve the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) New Aviation Horizons (NAH) Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transport strategic goals for reduced emissions, fuel burn, and noise levels. A BWB X-plane would be a key enabler for industry adoption of breakthrough BWB technology, which offers the largest community outcomes for both the airline industry and airport communities. The BWB configuration alone provides much of the performance benefit and realization of NAH goals. Several other key technology elements coupled with the BWB configuration also play significant roles in achieving these goals. A BWB subsonic X-plane designed to fit into the regional jet market is the appropriate planform on which to mature critical technology elements and corroborate the analytical results. In the study, a single-deck subsonic BWB X-plane was sized to match or exceed the range and payload of the 2005 best-in-class NASA baseline regional jet, the 98-passenger ERJ-190. The BWB achieved over 50% less fuel burn per passenger-mile, over 80% reduction in emissions, and more than 32dB of cumulative noise compared to Stage-IV levels. When the BWB is sized with a similar range and payload capacity as the 737-800, NASA's 2005 best in class single-aisle jet, the BWB again achieved NASA's N+2 goals. A BWB X-plane will advance key technologies to Technology Readiness Level six (TRL 6). Specifically, the technologies include BWB aerodynamics, BWB propulsion/airframe integration, BWB structures, BWB acoustics, and a novel landing gear design that enables a single-deck BWB. Maturating these technologies will help introduce BWB aircraft into the regional and single-aisle jet markets where the community benefits can be enjoyed to the greatest extent.